Rocket propulsion exam – March 2023

Let us consider the operations of the first stage of a launcher delivering a V=8500 m/s to a
payload mass of 20 tons. The propulsion system of the core of the first stage is based on two
identical engines based on the propellant combination made by oxygen and hydrogen with a
mixture ratio O/F=5.9. The launcher is equipped with 4 solid propellant boosters during the
first part of its operation. At the end of the first part (booster separation) the delivered V is
2300 m/s.
Part 1 Preliminary analysis
Core stage assumptions:
• The only reaction products of the core stage combustion are H2 and H2O
• Tc=3600 K
• =1.2
• pc/pe=600
• pc=127 bar
• Number of engines 2
• Single engine vacuum thrust 1100 kN
Booster assumptions (data refer to a single booster):
• Propellant mass 64 t
• Inert mass 10 t
• Average Isp 2600 m/s
• Burn time 114 s
• We assume that vacuum thrust is 8% higher than sea level thrust
Calculate:
• The initial mass of the rocket
• The vehicle thrust to weight ratio at liftoff
• The acceleration provided by the vehicle at booster separation
• The acceleration provided by the vehicle at core stage separation

Part 2 Core stage detailed analysis

• The equilibrium reaction products of the core stage combustion are H2, H2O, H, OH, and it is known
that XOH=0.055 and the equilibrium constant for the dissociation reaction from H2 to H (H2 ↔ H) can
be assumed Kp=1 bar
Using the attached tables calculate:
• the adiabatic flame temperature
• the ratio of specific heats evaluated at chamber conditions

Assume for the reference gravity constant g0=9.80665 ms-2

For the universal gas constant assume R=8314.46 J/kmol/K

Consultation of text/notes is allowed

All the relations used for computations must be clearly and extensively written
H2O: Water M=18 kg/kmol
T cP hs so go/RT ∆hfo h
200.00 33.349 -3.281 175.476 -168.503 -241.826 -245.107
298.15 33.587 0.002 188.828 -120.262 -241.826 -241.824
300.00 33.596 0.064 189.036 -119.660 -241.826 -241.762
400.00 34.265 3.454 198.782 -95.582 -241.826 -238.372
500.00 35.225 6.926 206.528 -81.344 -241.826 -234.900
600.00 36.324 10.503 213.046 -71.993 -241.826 -231.323
700.00 37.499 14.194 218.733 -65.419 -241.826 -227.632
800.00 38.728 18.005 223.820 -60.569 -241.826 -223.821
900.00 39.998 21.941 228.454 -56.861 -241.826 -219.885
1000.00 41.291 26.005 232.735 -53.949 -241.826 -215.821
1100.00 42.574 30.198 236.731 -51.611 -241.826 -211.628
1200.00 43.842 34.519 240.490 -49.702 -241.826 -207.307
1300.00 45.065 38.965 244.048 -48.120 -241.826 -202.861
1400.00 46.226 43.530 247.430 -46.794 -241.826 -198.296
1500.00 47.318 48.208 250.657 -45.672 -241.826 -193.618
1600.00 48.340 52.991 253.744 -44.713 -241.826 -188.835
1700.00 49.291 57.873 256.703 -43.889 -241.826 -183.953
1800.00 50.176 62.847 259.546 -43.175 -241.826 -178.979
1900.00 50.996 67.906 262.281 -42.555 -241.826 -173.920
2000.00 51.755 73.045 264.916 -42.012 -241.826 -168.781
2100.00 52.458 78.256 267.459 -41.536 -241.826 -163.570
2200.00 53.108 83.534 269.914 -41.117 -241.826 -158.292
2300.00 53.708 88.876 272.289 -40.747 -241.826 -152.950
2400.00 54.263 94.274 274.586 -40.420 -241.826 -147.552
2500.00 54.777 99.727 276.812 -40.129 -241.826 -142.099
2600.00 55.251 105.229 278.970 -39.871 -241.826 -136.597
2700.00 55.690 110.776 281.063 -39.642 -241.826 -131.050
2800.00 56.096 116.365 283.096 -39.438 -241.826 -125.461
2900.00 56.473 121.994 285.071 -39.256 -241.826 -119.832
3000.00 56.823 127.659 286.992 -39.094 -241.826 -114.167
3100.00 57.149 133.358 288.860 -38.950 -241.826 -108.468
3200.00 57.452 139.088 290.679 -38.822 -241.826 -102.738
3300.00 57.736 144.848 292.452 -38.708 -241.826 -96.978
3400.00 58.002 150.635 294.179 -38.608 -241.826 -91.191
3500.00 58.252 156.447 295.864 -38.518 -241.826 -85.379
3600.00 58.488 162.285 297.509 -38.440 -241.826 -79.541
3700.00 58.712 168.145 299.114 -38.370 -241.826 -73.681
3800.00 58.925 174.026 300.683 -38.310 -241.826 -67.800
3900.00 59.129 179.929 302.216 -38.257 -241.826 -61.897
4000.00 59.324 185.852 303.715 -38.212 -241.826 -55.974
4100.00 59.513 191.794 305.183 -38.173 -241.826 -50.032
4200.00 59.697 197.754 306.619 -38.140 -241.826 -44.072
4300.00 59.875 203.733 308.026 -38.113 -241.826 -38.093
4400.00 60.049 209.729 309.404 -38.090 -241.826 -32.097
4500.00 60.220 215.743 310.756 -38.073 -241.826 -26.083
4600.00 60.389 221.773 312.081 -38.059 -241.826 -20.053
4700.00 60.555 227.821 313.382 -38.050 -241.826 -14.005
4800.00 60.720 233.884 314.658 -38.044 -241.826 -7.942
4900.00 60.883 239.964 315.912 -38.041 -241.826 -1.862
5000.00 61.045 246.061 317.144 -38.042 -241.826 4.235
5100.00 61.205 252.173 318.354 -38.045 -241.826 10.347
5200.00 61.364 258.302 319.544 -38.051 -241.826 16.476
5300.00 61.522 264.446 320.714 -38.060 -241.826 22.620
5400.00 61.678 270.606 321.866 -38.071 -241.826 28.780
5500.00 61.832 276.782 322.999 -38.084 -241.826 34.956
5600.00 61.984 282.973 324.115 -38.098 -241.826 41.147
5700.00 62.133 289.178 325.213 -38.115 -241.826 47.352
5800.00 62.278 295.399 326.295 -38.133 -241.826 53.573
5900.00 62.418 301.634 327.361 -38.153 -241.826 59.808
6000.00 62.554 307.882 328.411 -38.175 -241.826 66.056

Temperature: K Enthalpy: MJ/kmol (or kJ/mol)

Entropy, cp: kJ/(kmol•K) Gibbs free energy: dimensionless
H2: Molecular Hydrogen M=2 kg/kmol
T cP hs so go/RT ∆hfo h
200.00 27.445 -2.775 119.409 -16.031 0.000 -2.775
298.15 28.836 -0.000 130.680 -15.717 0.000 -0.000
300.00 28.849 0.053 130.858 -15.717 0.000 0.053
400.00 29.189 2.960 139.217 -15.854 0.000 2.960
500.00 29.253 5.883 145.739 -16.113 0.000 5.883
600.00 29.318 8.811 151.077 -16.404 0.000 8.811
700.00 29.444 11.748 155.606 -16.697 0.000 11.748
800.00 29.629 14.701 159.549 -16.979 0.000 14.701
900.00 29.873 17.676 163.052 -17.249 0.000 17.676
1000.00 30.206 20.679 166.215 -17.504 0.000 20.679
1100.00 30.567 23.717 169.111 -17.746 0.000 23.717
1200.00 30.982 26.794 171.788 -17.976 0.000 26.794
1300.00 31.421 29.914 174.285 -18.194 0.000 29.914
1400.00 31.865 33.078 176.630 -18.402 0.000 33.078
1500.00 32.304 36.287 178.844 -18.600 0.000 36.287
1600.00 32.732 39.539 180.942 -18.790 0.000 39.539
1700.00 33.144 42.833 182.939 -18.972 0.000 42.833
1800.00 33.539 46.167 184.845 -19.147 0.000 46.167
1900.00 33.916 49.540 186.668 -19.315 0.000 49.540
2000.00 34.276 52.950 188.417 -19.477 0.000 52.950
2100.00 34.618 56.395 190.098 -19.634 0.000 56.395
2200.00 34.944 59.873 191.716 -19.785 0.000 59.873
2300.00 35.254 63.383 193.276 -19.931 0.000 63.383
2400.00 35.550 66.923 194.783 -20.073 0.000 66.923
2500.00 35.832 70.492 196.240 -20.211 0.000 70.492
2600.00 36.102 74.089 197.650 -20.345 0.000 74.089
2700.00 36.360 77.712 199.018 -20.475 0.000 77.712
2800.00 36.608 81.361 200.344 -20.601 0.000 81.361
2900.00 36.847 85.034 201.633 -20.724 0.000 85.034
3000.00 37.078 88.730 202.886 -20.844 0.000 88.730
3100.00 37.301 92.449 204.106 -20.962 0.000 92.449
3200.00 37.517 96.190 205.294 -21.076 0.000 96.190
3300.00 37.728 99.952 206.451 -21.188 0.000 99.952
3400.00 37.933 103.735 207.581 -21.297 0.000 103.735
3500.00 38.134 107.539 208.683 -21.403 0.000 107.539
3600.00 38.331 111.362 209.760 -21.508 0.000 111.362
3700.00 38.524 115.205 210.813 -21.610 0.000 115.205
3800.00 38.714 119.067 211.843 -21.710 0.000 119.067
3900.00 38.902 122.948 212.851 -21.809 0.000 122.948
4000.00 39.086 126.847 213.838 -21.905 0.000 126.847
4100.00 39.269 130.765 214.806 -21.999 0.000 130.765
4200.00 39.449 134.701 215.754 -22.092 0.000 134.701
4300.00 39.626 138.655 216.684 -22.183 0.000 138.655
4400.00 39.802 142.626 217.597 -22.272 0.000 142.626
4500.00 39.975 146.615 218.494 -22.360 0.000 146.615
4600.00 40.145 150.621 219.374 -22.447 0.000 150.621
4700.00 40.312 154.644 220.239 -22.531 0.000 154.644
4800.00 40.476 158.683 221.090 -22.615 0.000 158.683
4900.00 40.637 162.739 221.926 -22.697 0.000 162.739
5000.00 40.793 166.810 222.749 -22.778 0.000 166.810
5100.00 40.944 170.897 223.558 -22.858 0.000 170.897
5200.00 41.090 174.999 224.354 -22.936 0.000 174.999
5300.00 41.230 179.115 225.138 -23.013 0.000 179.115
5400.00 41.363 183.245 225.910 -23.089 0.000 183.245
5500.00 41.488 187.387 226.670 -23.164 0.000 187.387
5600.00 41.604 191.542 227.419 -23.238 0.000 191.542
5700.00 41.711 195.708 228.156 -23.311 0.000 195.708
5800.00 41.807 199.884 228.883 -23.383 0.000 199.884
5900.00 41.891 204.069 229.598 -23.454 0.000 204.069
6000.00 41.961 208.261 230.303 -23.524 0.000 208.261

Temperature: K Enthalpy: MJ/kmol (or kJ/mol)

Entropy, cp: kJ/(kmol•K) Gibbs free energy: dimensionless
OH: Hydroxyl M=17 kg/kmol
T cP hs so go/RT ∆hfo h
200.00 30.516 -2.960 171.690 -0.012 37.278 34.318
298.15 29.886 -0.000 183.738 -7.061 37.278 37.278
300.00 29.879 0.055 183.923 -7.154 37.278 37.333
400.00 29.603 3.027 192.476 -11.030 37.278 40.306
500.00 29.495 5.981 199.067 -13.537 37.278 43.259
600.00 29.514 8.931 204.445 -15.326 37.278 46.209
700.00 29.655 11.888 209.004 -16.690 37.278 49.166
800.00 29.912 14.865 212.979 -17.776 37.278 52.144
900.00 30.266 17.874 216.522 -18.671 37.278 55.152
1000.00 30.682 20.921 219.732 -19.428 37.278 58.199
1100.00 31.124 24.011 222.676 -20.081 37.278 61.289
1200.00 31.597 27.147 225.405 -20.653 37.278 64.425
1300.00 32.070 30.330 227.953 -21.162 37.278 67.608
1400.00 32.528 33.560 230.346 -21.619 37.278 70.838
1500.00 32.964 36.835 232.605 -22.034 37.278 74.113
1600.00 33.374 40.152 234.746 -22.413 37.278 77.430
1700.00 33.758 43.509 236.781 -22.763 37.278 80.787
1800.00 34.117 46.903 238.721 -23.087 37.278 84.181
1900.00 34.452 50.331 240.575 -23.389 37.278 87.610
2000.00 34.764 53.792 242.350 -23.671 37.278 91.071
2100.00 35.057 57.284 244.053 -23.937 37.278 94.562
2200.00 35.330 60.803 245.690 -24.188 37.278 98.081
2300.00 35.587 64.349 247.266 -24.425 37.278 101.627
2400.00 35.828 67.920 248.786 -24.650 37.278 105.198
2500.00 36.056 71.514 250.253 -24.865 37.278 108.793
2600.00 36.272 75.131 251.672 -25.069 37.278 112.409
2700.00 36.477 78.768 253.045 -25.265 37.278 116.047
2800.00 36.672 82.426 254.375 -25.452 37.278 119.704
2900.00 36.859 86.103 255.665 -25.632 37.278 123.381
3000.00 37.037 89.797 256.917 -25.806 37.278 127.076
3100.00 37.209 93.510 258.135 -25.972 37.278 130.788
3200.00 37.375 97.239 259.319 -26.133 37.278 134.517
3300.00 37.535 100.985 260.471 -26.288 37.278 138.263
3400.00 37.690 104.746 261.594 -26.439 37.278 142.024
3500.00 37.840 108.522 262.689 -26.584 37.278 145.801
3600.00 37.986 112.314 263.757 -26.725 37.278 149.592
3700.00 38.129 116.120 264.800 -26.862 37.278 153.398
3800.00 38.268 119.939 265.818 -26.995 37.278 157.218
3900.00 38.404 123.773 266.814 -27.124 37.278 161.051
4000.00 38.536 127.620 267.788 -27.249 37.278 164.898
4100.00 38.665 131.480 268.741 -27.372 37.278 168.758
4200.00 38.792 135.353 269.674 -27.491 37.278 172.631
4300.00 38.915 139.238 270.589 -27.607 37.278 176.516
4400.00 39.034 143.136 271.485 -27.721 37.278 180.414
4500.00 39.151 147.045 272.363 -27.831 37.278 184.323
4600.00 39.264 150.966 273.225 -27.940 37.278 188.244
4700.00 39.373 154.898 274.071 -28.045 37.278 192.176
4800.00 39.478 158.840 274.901 -28.149 37.278 196.118
4900.00 39.579 162.793 275.716 -28.250 37.278 200.071
5000.00 39.675 166.756 276.516 -28.349 37.278 204.034
5100.00 39.766 170.728 277.303 -28.447 37.278 208.006
5200.00 39.851 174.709 278.076 -28.542 37.278 211.987
5300.00 39.931 178.698 278.836 -28.635 37.278 215.976
5400.00 40.004 182.695 279.583 -28.727 37.278 219.973
5500.00 40.069 186.698 280.317 -28.817 37.278 223.977
5600.00 40.128 190.708 281.040 -28.905 37.278 227.987
5700.00 40.178 194.724 281.751 -28.992 37.278 232.002
5800.00 40.218 198.744 282.450 -29.077 37.278 236.022
5900.00 40.250 202.767 283.138 -29.160 37.278 240.045
6000.00 40.270 206.793 283.814 -29.243 37.278 244.071

Temperature: K Enthalpy: MJ/kmol (or kJ/mol)

Entropy, cp: kJ/(kmol•K) Gibbs free energy: dimensionless
H: Monoatomic Hydrogen M=1.008 kg/kmol
T cP hs so go/RT ∆hfo h
200.00 20.786 -2.042 106.418 117.069 217.999 215.957
298.15 20.786 -0.002 114.717 74.142 217.999 217.997
300.00 20.786 0.037 114.846 73.600 217.999 218.036
400.00 20.786 2.116 120.825 51.652 217.999 220.114
500.00 20.786 4.194 125.464 38.358 217.999 222.193
600.00 20.786 6.273 129.253 29.411 217.999 224.272
700.00 20.786 8.351 132.458 22.960 217.999 226.350
800.00 20.786 10.430 135.233 18.077 217.999 228.429
900.00 20.786 12.509 137.682 14.245 217.999 230.507
1000.00 20.786 14.587 139.872 11.151 217.999 232.586
1100.00 20.786 16.666 141.853 8.597 217.999 234.665
1200.00 20.786 18.744 143.661 6.450 217.999 236.743
1300.00 20.786 20.823 145.325 4.617 217.999 238.822
1400.00 20.786 22.902 146.865 3.032 217.999 240.900
1500.00 20.786 24.980 148.300 1.646 217.999 242.979
1600.00 20.786 27.059 149.641 0.423 217.999 245.058
1700.00 20.786 29.137 150.901 -0.665 217.999 247.136
1800.00 20.786 31.216 152.089 -1.640 217.999 249.215
1900.00 20.786 33.295 153.213 -2.520 217.999 251.294
2000.00 20.786 35.373 154.279 -3.319 217.999 253.372
2100.00 20.786 37.452 155.294 -4.047 217.999 255.451
2200.00 20.786 39.531 156.261 -4.715 217.999 257.529
2300.00 20.786 41.609 157.184 -5.329 217.999 259.608
2400.00 20.786 43.688 158.069 -5.897 217.999 261.687
2500.00 20.786 45.766 158.918 -6.424 217.999 263.765
2600.00 20.786 47.845 159.733 -6.914 217.999 265.844
2700.00 20.786 49.924 160.517 -7.371 217.999 267.922
2800.00 20.786 52.002 161.273 -7.799 217.999 270.001
2900.00 20.786 54.081 162.003 -8.200 217.999 272.080
3000.00 20.786 56.159 162.707 -8.578 217.999 274.158
3100.00 20.786 58.238 163.389 -8.934 217.999 276.237
3200.00 20.786 60.317 164.049 -9.270 217.999 278.315
3300.00 20.786 62.395 164.689 -9.588 217.999 280.394
3400.00 20.786 64.474 165.309 -9.890 217.999 282.473
3500.00 20.786 66.553 165.912 -10.176 217.999 284.551
3600.00 20.786 68.631 166.497 -10.449 217.999 286.630
3700.00 20.786 70.710 167.067 -10.709 217.999 288.709
3800.00 20.786 72.788 167.621 -10.957 217.999 290.787
3900.00 20.786 74.867 168.161 -11.193 217.999 292.866
4000.00 20.786 76.946 168.687 -11.420 217.999 294.944
4100.00 20.786 79.024 169.200 -11.637 217.999 297.023
4200.00 20.786 81.103 169.701 -11.845 217.999 299.102
4300.00 20.786 83.181 170.190 -12.045 217.999 301.180
4400.00 20.786 85.260 170.668 -12.237 217.999 303.259
4500.00 20.786 87.339 171.135 -12.422 217.999 305.337
4600.00 20.786 89.417 171.592 -12.600 217.999 307.416
4700.00 20.786 91.496 172.039 -12.772 217.999 309.495
4800.00 20.786 93.574 172.477 -12.937 217.999 311.573
4900.00 20.786 95.653 172.906 -13.097 217.999 313.652
5000.00 20.786 97.732 173.326 -13.252 217.999 315.730
5100.00 20.786 99.810 173.737 -13.401 217.999 317.809
5200.00 20.786 101.889 174.141 -13.546 217.999 319.888
5300.00 20.786 103.968 174.537 -13.686 217.999 321.966
5400.00 20.786 106.046 174.925 -13.821 217.999 324.045
5500.00 20.786 108.125 175.307 -13.953 217.999 326.124
5600.00 20.786 110.203 175.681 -14.081 217.999 328.202
5700.00 20.786 112.282 176.049 -14.205 217.999 330.281
5800.00 20.786 114.361 176.411 -14.325 217.999 332.359
5900.00 20.786 116.439 176.766 -14.443 217.999 334.438
6000.00 20.786 118.518 177.115 -14.556 217.999 336.517

Temperature: K Enthalpy: MJ/kmol (or kJ/mol)

Entropy, cp: kJ/(kmol•K) Gibbs free energy: dimensionless