S.1 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Chapter 1: Introduction to ...
S.1 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Chapter 1: Introduction to ...
S.1 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Chapter 1: Introduction to ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
- 11-<br />
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.