rocket, in aeronautics: Design of the Exit Nozzle

A critical element in all rockets is the design of the exit nozzle, which must be shaped to obtain maximum energy from the exhaust gases moving through it. The nozzle usually converges to a narrow throat, then diverges to create a form which shapes the hypersonic flow of exhaust gas most efficiently. The walls of the combustion chamber and nozzle must be cooled to protect them against the heat of the escaping gases, whose temperature may be as high as 3,000℃—above the melting point of any metal or alloy.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Development of Rockets
• Staging of Rockets
• Design of the Exit Nozzle
• Rocket Propellants
• Rocket Design
• Rocket Propulsion
• Bibliography

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