A survey of papers dealing with the optimisation of multi-stage rockets is presented first. These papers contain investigations, in terms of suitable non-dimensional parameters, about the dependence of the performance of rockets on the mass ratios of various components of the structure, the payload, the thrust, and the specific impulse. Then a condition is derived for the most favourable instant at which, for a given trajectory, the transition from one stage of a multi-stage rocket to the next one occurs. If each stage of a multi-stage rocket is ignited at the very moment the preceding stage is burnt out, and if the mass of the burnt-out stage is shed simultaneously from the rest of the rocket, the propellant would have to be distributed over the various stages in such a way that the ratio of the rocket acceleration over the mass flow at cut-off prior to shedding equals the same ratio at ignition of the next stage after shedding, in order to obtain the maximum cut-off velocity of the last stage. In order to achieve a ceiling of the trajectory as high as possible or a range as large as possible, the most favourable time is generally lagging slightly behind that for the maximum cut-off velocity. (Author)


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    Title :

    Ein Beitrag zur Theorie der Stufenraketan (A Contribution to the Theory of Multistage Rockets)


    Contributors:
    W. Schulz (author)

    Publication date :

    1961


    Size :

    10 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Contribution to theory of multistage rockets

    Schulz, W. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1961


    COST-OPTIMIZING MULTISTAGE ROCKETS

    Hill, P. R. | NTRS | 1963




    On optimization of multistage rockets

    Hall, H.H. / Zambelli, E.D. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1958