Suggested reading for budding aerospace engineer

[K6-III]

So what do you suggest???

I'm primarily interested in rocket propulsion, LACE (hydrogen ramjet), flight beyond earth orbit, lunar colonization, and more of the same...

So, what do you suggest???

Also, take into account that I'm a freshmen Aerospace Engineering student...so keep the material at that level if you can...

[Jovian03]

It's good to know that I'm not the only one in this boat, K6-III. You have a year on me, but I'll be a freshman Aerospace Engineering major in the fall, and my primary interest is propulsion. I've spent a good deal of time looking for comprehensible literature on the subject, but with little success. LACE/scramjet propulsion has been in development since the late '60s, but we've only recently seen a resurgence in interest. I've found nothing of value on either one.
Now, the good news. I recently bought Rocket Propulsion Elements Seventh Edition, by George Sutton and Oscar Biblarz. It's a 700-odd-page behemoth, but it's concise (no, I'm not contradicting myself), full of clear diagrams, and limited to a reasonable mathematical level (mostly Algebra and Trigonometry, but with some basic Differential and Integral Calculus thrown in). It's really a pleasure to read. There aren't any advanced concepts included (liquid fuel, solid fuel, and hybrid rocket propulsion are covered in-depth), but the Seventh Edition includes a discussion of the aerospike nozzle (which was to be used on the ill-fated X-33/Venturestar) and a long chapter on Electric Propulsion. It's a bit pricey ($94-100, depending on where you shop for it; I recommend half.com), but well worth it. Hope I helped.

[K6-III]

Thanks a bunch.

I'll defenitely look into it!!!

In fact, once SEDS-MN has some funding, perhaps we can assemble a library of sorts of good reading....

[K6-III]

Just checked. Turns out the university library already has it. Will go check it out...

Thanks again.

[K6-III]

Just picked up the 6th edition. Looks excellent!!!