Rocket propulsion systems push the limits of our understanding and applications of science, engineering, and manufacturing. With every new mission requirement there is need for innovations in the design, modeling and fabrication of components and systems that come together to propel flight vehicles through the earth’s atmosphere as well as the vacuum of space. In this mini lecture, I will attempt to draw the lines that connect the fundamentals of rocket propulsion to the innovations that are behind the current boost in commercial space exploration.