Chemical Propulsion for Space Exploration: Good for Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow

Chemical propulsion has been the workhorse of space exploration since its beginning. Chemical propulsion is, as its name implies, all about chemisty and chemical reations. Combine certain chemicals and chemical bonds form, releasing energy. It is this energy that is harnessed to provide high thrust, and are mostly reliable, they will likely be the mainstay propulsion system for the foreseeable future. However, unless we change the way we use the, their implementation will become more and more of a liability, . . . which requires some explanation.