propulsion
noun/pɹəˈpʌlʃən/
Etymology Borrowed from Medieval Latin propulsio, propulsionis, from the past participle of Latin propello (“to drive forward, drive forth, drive away, drive out”).
1
The process of propelling, driving, or pushing, typically forward or onward; a propulsive force or impulse.
2
That which propels.
- However, nuclear propulsion provides a very high specific impulse and consistent, long duration energy source.1995, Joyce A. Hayes, Benjamin E. Goldberg, David M. Anderson, “Environmental Benefits of Chemical Propulsion”, in Ann F. Whitaker, editor, Aerospace Environmental Technology Conference, page 59:
- This propulsion provides an initial velocity for the vehicle in a short time span.2013, Yung-Kang (Derby) Sun, Non-Propellant Propulsion for Space Flight, page 20:
1 more example
- Solar-electric propulsion accelerates a spacecraft by means of a low-thrust ion jet.2015, Peter Jedicke, Extreme Science: The Highway of Light and Other Man-Made Wonders, Scientific American:
- Derived terms
- astronaut propulsion unit, gravitational propulsion, jet propulsion, nonpropulsion, overpropulsion, propulsionless, retropropulsion
- Related terms
- propel