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S.1 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Chapter 1: Introduction to ...

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S.8 <strong>Propulsion</strong> System Performance<br />

<strong>Propulsion</strong> System Performance Fac<strong>to</strong>r:<br />

System-specific Impulse, Issp<br />

Another very important quantity is the System-specific Impulse, Issp, which is the <strong>to</strong>tal<br />

impulse, I<strong>to</strong>t delivered by the system, divided by the <strong>to</strong>tal mass, mPS, of the propulsion<br />

system, that is, all of the propulsion system and not only the propellant as for Isp:<br />

I<br />

I = [Ns/kg]<br />

<strong>to</strong>t<br />

ssp<br />

mPS<br />

Issp = system-specific impulse [Ns/kg]<br />

I<strong>to</strong>t = <strong>to</strong>tal impulse delivered by the propulsion system [Ns]<br />

mPS = mass of propulsion system [kg]<br />

Issp is a very useful <strong>to</strong>ol, but its practical application requires a very clear definition of what<br />

is included in “<strong>to</strong>tal mass of propulsion system”.<br />

Details of how the Issp is determined for each kind of propulsion system are dealt with in the<br />

‘Issp Program’ in chapter 4.

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