Propulsion systems (Topical Term)

Work cat.: Busse, J.R. Aerobee 150 propulsion failure, 1967.

Academic Press dictionary of science and technology, 1992 ("propulsion system -- mechanical engineering -- a system that produces a required change in the momentum of a vehicle by changing the velocity of the fluid or propellant passing through the propulsive device or engine")

McGraw-Hill dictionary of scientific and technical terms, 2003: p. 1687 ("propulsion system -- (mech[anical] eng[ineering]) -- For a vehicle moving in a fluid medium, such as an airplane or ship, a system that produces a required change in momentum in the vehicle by changing the velocity of the air or water passing through the propulsive device or engine; in the case of a rocket-propelled vehicle operating without a fluid medium, the required momentum change is produced by using up some of the propulsive device's own mass, called the propellant")

Chambers dictionary of science and technology, 1999