Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering

by Travis S. Taylor

An overall view of the vast spectrum of knowledge needed by practicing rocket scientists and engineers, Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering presents the history and basics of rocket theory, design, experimentation, testing, and applications. It covers an array of fields, from advanced mathematics, chemistry, and physics to logistics, systems engineering, and politics. The text begins with a discussion on the discovery and development of rockets as well as the basic principles governing rockets and rocket science. It explains why rockets are needed from economic, philosophical, and strategic standpoints and looks at why the physics of the universe forces us to use rockets to complete certain activities. Exploring how rockets work, the author covers the concepts of thrust, momentum, impulse, and the rocket equation, along with the rocket engine, its components, and the physics involved in the generation of the propulsive force. He also presents several different types of rocket engines and discusses the testing of rocket components, subsystems, systems, and complete products. The final chapter stresses the importance of rocket scientists and engineers to think of the unusual, unlikely, and unthinkable when dealing with the complexities of rocketry. Taking students through the process of becoming a rocket scientist or engineer, this text supplies a hands-on understanding of the many facets of rocketry. It provides the ideal foundation for students to continue on their journey in rocket science and engineering.

Genres: Science, Space, Textbooks, Engineering, Nonfiction

324 pages, Hardcover

Published February 24, 2009

About the author

Travis Shane Taylor is a born and bred southerner and resides just outside Huntsville, Alabama. He has a Doctorate in Optical Science and Engineering, a Master’s degree in Physics, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; a Master’s degree in Astronomy from the Univ. of Western Sydney, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Alabama.

Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He is currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies and systems, and next generation space launch concepts. He is also involved with multiple MASINT, SIGINT, IMINT, and HUMINT concept studies.

He has published over 25 papers and the appendix on solar sailing in the 2nd edition of Deep Space Probes by Greg Matloff.

His first science fiction novel is, Warp Speed, and his second is The Quantum Connection published by Baen Publishing. He is also working on two different series with best-selling author John Ringo also by Baen Publishing. He has several other works of both fiction and nonfiction ongoing.

Travis is also a Black Belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain and road bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife Karen, his daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fine, balanced book. It covers a wide variety of topics without getting bogged down in excessive detail. The math and the practical examples are in depth without being too difficult. The math level is primarily first year college. The only reason I did not give it a five star ratings is that it is very much orientated toward government programs- little talk is dedicated to non-government programs and cost control- indeed some parts of the book have not been updated from the 2009 version. In addition I did catch a few minor typos. These issues however are all minor and the book is very valuable in giving you a good foundation to becoming a “rocket scientist”.

[Jorge Simao · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very best to get into real rocket science and engineering. Cover lost of ground with both intuition and enough math rigours to be actually useful to run simulation and move beyond. Your first step to more advanced and detailed studies, or simply to make sense where/what NASA and SpaceX are actually doing to make space transportation and exploration real.

[Dimitri Kurashvili · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't buy this book!
Author has no idea what he's writing about.
Arithmetic is mostly wrong.
Algebra is also often wrong.
Physics is often times confused.
There's only one chemical formula in the whole book, but even it is not correct! (p.117)

[Jules Tarquinio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, content is great.

The book covers a wide variety of subjects from orbital mechanics to the intricacies of thrust and logistics. However, it must be noted that this book is, as of 2022, starting to become out-of-date as, for instance, many points are made concerning the now-terminated Constellation program, and as reusable launch systems are basically ignored.

It is also relevant to add that although the concepts the author tackles in the book can be globally easily understood, the mathematical tools used to describe them are everything but of introductory level. One will at least have to have followed an undergraduate-level maths class to be able to grasp all the details.

Finally, I think the book could have, and should have dealt with rocket fuels chemistry in greater detail : there is only one chemical formula (p.117), which, moreover is erroneous (it probably is a typo and anyone interested enough in rocketry to be reading this book will most likely notice the missing stoichiometric coefficient in front of the H2O on the right hand side of the equation). Indeed, this edition (the most recent one, namely the second edition) is riddled with typing errors, which can sometimes be more than irritating, especially when mathematical formulas are affected, which is the case at least once in the book. When reading it, one will wonder whether the author has read over his writings...

[Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly good and entertaining.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

We taking off boys.

[Hasrhdeep]

bariya bhi