Rocketry Glossary

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Aerospike Nozzle

A nozzle whose main flow is annular about a center, truncated cone, shiver me timbers, and a secondary flow is introduced through t' base o' t' cone. Avast, me proud beauty! T' circulation o' this secondary flow and its interaction with t' engine exhaust creates an "aerodynamic spike" that behaves much like t' ideal, shiver me timbers, isentropic spike. Ya scallywag! In addition, me hearties, t' secondary flow re-circulates upward pushin' on t' base t' produce additional thrust. Ahoy! It is this artificial aerodynamic spike for which t' Aerospike nozzle is named.


   

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