Space Propulsion: Advances and Challenges (4th Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

The principal function of space propulsion systems is to accelerate spacecraft by producing a propulsive force (thrust) or a change in velocity (delta-V) by ejecting a propellant mass at a high speed into the air or space, relying on Newton’s laws of motion. This approach plays an important role in the acceleration, attitude control, drag make-up, and orbit transfer maneuvers of spacecraft. Various types of space propulsion systems can be defined depending on what kind of energy source is used and how the energy is generated to provide thrust. At present, chemical and electric propulsion systems are the preferred types for spacecraft, and applications of space propulsion can be classified into three different categories: escape propulsion (from Earth’s surface to its orbit), in-space propulsion (in Earth’s orbit), and deep space propulsion (from Earth’s orbit to outer space).

Since Goddard‘s first successful flight of a liquid propellant rocket in 1926, the roles of space propulsion have become more complex and important in terms of the successful completion of predefined mission goals, as demands on the function of space propulsion have diversified. Thus, various new and advanced concepts of space propulsion technologies are under investigation and development, especially for small-lift launch vehicles, reusable launch vehicles, Earth-orbiting satellites, deep space explorers, cubesats, and many other spacecraft applications.

This Special Issue invites contributions relating to recent advances and challenges for space propulsion technologies. Submissions are welcome from a whole range of space propulsion topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Concept, theory, and related science and engineering;
• Design, modeling, simulation, and analysis;
• Mission and application;
• Launch and flight/orbit operation;
• Experiment, test, and verification;
• Propellant (solid, liquid, gas, non-toxic, gelled, etc.);
• Thrust generation method and type (chemical, electric, hybrid, solar sail, nuclear, etc.);
• Hardware (materials, parts, components, equipment, assembly, and systems) and software;
• Manufacturing, integration, and facility.

Prof. Dr. Kyun Ho Lee
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• space propulsion
• chemical propulsion
• electric propulsion
• hybrid propulsion
• solar sail propulsion
• nuclear propulsion
• spacecraft
• rocket
• launch vehicle
• satellite
• cubesat
• deep space explorer

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