Propulsion Systems & Launch Vehicles Practice Quiz

What is a typical use of a cold gas rocket?

• Launch

• Station keeping

• Significant orbital maneuvers

What is the basic concept behind how a nuclear thermal rocket works?

• • Chained nuclear detonations propel the rocket through the vacuum of space.

• Liquid propellant passes by the heated nuclear core of a reactor and turns the propellant into high enthalpy gases.

• Nuclear waste is mixed with an oxidizer to create a chemical reaction to produce thrust.

How do solar thermal rockets collect solar energy?

• Solar Panels

• Solar Absorbant paint

When discussing chemical rockets, what is true when comparing mechanical and thermal energy that is produced?

• The mechanical energy produced is large when compared to the amount of thermal energy produced.

• The mechanical energy produced is small when compared to the amount of thermal energy produced.

• An equal amount of mechanical and thermal energy is produced by chemical rockets.

Which one of the following is a type of thermodynamic rocket?

• Cold gas

• Plasma

• Electrodynamic

Although the technology is new, what are some potential advantages of solar thermal rockets?

• Ability to store more propellant

• Limitless energy, low masses, and low conversion losses

• Ability to operate in all weather conditions

Although electric rockets are capable of accelerating charged propellants to extremely high velocities, why are they not practical for use in earth launch vehicles?

• Inability to store enough propellant to leave earth's atmosphere

• High spacecraft power demands and lower thrust when compared to other rockets.

• The charged propellant is extremely volatile when exposed to earth's atmosphere.

What are the two liquids that are combined in a bipropellant rocket?

• Liquid Oxidizer and Liquid Fuel

• • Liquid Coolant and Liquid Fuel

• Liquid Reducer and Liquid Oxidizer

In a solid chemical rocket, what is blended with the solid-state oxidizers and fuel propellants to create a reaction?

• A binding agent

• A catalyst

• An oxidizer

What is a disadvantage of using a nuclear thermal rocket?

• Inability to stop ignition

• Combustion chamber cooling

• Environmental and political concerns