Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion: Principles, Practice and New Developments (Springer Praxis Books)

Space exploration and research depends fundamentally on the use of rockets to launch probes and manned vehicles beyond the earths atmosphere. The first successful launch vehicles were developed in the 1960s from concepts dating back to the 1930s.
This practical book written from the perspective of the space scientist deals with the latest applications and propulsion concepts at a level readable by space scientists and students without a formal engineering background.
There are seven main topics: Principles of rocket propulsion and base vehicle dynamics; Thermal motors and the thermodynamics of thrust; Liquid propellant motors; Solid propellant motors; Launch vehicles, station keeping and attitude control, interplanetary transfer vehicles and dynamics; New developments: advanced thermal motors; electric propulsion and dynamics of electrically propelled vehicles; Future developments, fission and fusion powered propulsion.

From the reviews of the second edition:

"Turner (Univ. of Leicester, UK) offers an updated version of his 2000 book. … He examines rockets and rocket engines from the viewpoint of physical principles and gives accessible explanations on how rockets work. … Turner uses graphs to help interpret many equations. … Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates; graduate students." (D.B. Mason, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (10), June, 2005)

"As a rule, textbooks have equations and other books have colour photographs, but this book breaks that rule by including both. Its centre-section of 20 colour plates certainly sets it apart from most textbooks … . there is plenty of information between the equations to engage anyone with an interest in the technology. It also has a number of appendices and a five-page index. … The book is usefully up to date in its coverage. … This book remains an excellent primer on the principles of rocket propulsion." (Mark Williamson, International Space Review, 2005)