4. Glossary

aerobic; airbreathing

Which uses air as a combustion agent, drawing it from the Earth's atmosphere (via one or more air intakes).

propellants

Reagents (oxidizer and fuel) used for propulsion: propellant(s).

staging; staging/stage definition

Proportion of the increase in speed provided by several propulsion stages operating successively, corresponding number of stages.

aerodynamic finesse: lift-to-drag ratio L/D

Dimensionless ratio between aerodynamic lift and drag. This aerodynamic performance term is lower in supersonic flight than in subsonic flight. Depending on the shape and flight conditions, it characterizes the ability to glide. There is an angle of attack at which, for each Mach number, a lifting body maximizes...