What options are there for rocket propulsion?

This depends on the choice of fuel in chemical missiles. There is the classic solid rocket in which the fuel is introduced into the rocket in the form of a cast molded article. (Like the Boostern of the Space Shuttle, or the Ariane) It consists of fuel, oxidizer and binder. Sometimes the binder also performs several functions. Then there is the combined drive where the fuel is present as a solid and the oxidizer (usually liquid oxygen, but also nitric acid) in liquid form in tanks. And of course the pure liquid rocket, where both fuel and oxidizer are present as liquid. Suitable fuel is, inter alia, ethanol, ethanol or ethanol mixtures, or also aviation gasoline. As an oxidizer of liquid oxygen. The best specific impulse has a combination of liquid oxygen and hydrogen. (The Rocket fuel, mostly.)

Nuclear missiles have also been developed where the fuel is heated nuclear. They provide extremely good specific pulses, but are not harmless because of the reactors. Furthermore, there is the ion drive where an ionized noble gas is ejected. Also called plasma drive. Future projects such as fusion engines, anti-matter engines, or quantum drives are in principle plasma engines.