ABSTRACT
Chemical propulsion research has not seen a quantum leap during the past sev-
eral decades in realizing a new engine concept with substantial improvement in
performance and reduction in size in spite of the various signicant advances and
research accomplishments. This is partly due to the fact that driving the com-
bustion process toward faster energy release rates, higher operational tempera-
tures and pressures, and utilization of exotic high-energy fuels will be dependent
upon parallel developments in high-temperature materials with adequate heat
management characteristics, control of combustion processes, and elimination of
pollutants and signature-carrying species. Propulsion Science and Technology
(S&T) calls for multidisciplinary programs with inputs from a wide spectrum of
basic and applied sciences.
