Collected Works of H. S. Tsien (1938-1956)

Flight Analysis of a Sounding Rocket with Special Reference to Propulsion by Successive Impulses

Hsue-shen Tsien and Frank J. Malina

(California Institute of Technology)

Summary

In Part I of this paper an exact solution of the problem of determining the height reached by a body in vertical flight in vacuo propelled by successive impulses is presented. On the basis of this analysis it is concluded that a rocket propelled by successive impulses — the impulses being obtained, for example, from rapidly burning powder — can theoretically reach much greater heights than is possible by sounding balloons and, therefore, further experimental research is justified. In Part II the effect of the variation of the acceleration of gravity with height above ...