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Right, excellent. Except the first stage doesn't run out of propellant does it, because it has to LAND again. Hence my puzzlement. I know why multi-stage rock
by lutze 13y ago
Right, excellent.
Except the first stage doesn't run out of propellant does it, because it has to LAND again. Hence my puzzlement.
I know why multi-stage rockets are used... I'm asking why this rocket needs them, since they solve a problem it doesn't have by design.
- schiffern 13y ago>they solve a problem it doesn't have by design. This is where you're incorrect. Not having to accelerate the empty first stage to orbital speed (and back!) is a huge fuel savings.
- jessriedel 13y agoRockets don't have stages because they run out of propellant, they have stages so that you don't spend 99% percent of your fuel pushing engines and tanks into orbit which you don't need once you get there.
- jlgreco 13y ago> "they have stages so that you don't spend 99% percent of your fuel pushing engines and tanks into orbit" In fact you can kinda make a rocket that can reach orbit that doesn't have "stages" but rather jettisons engines themselves. Early Atlas rockets did this: they had one set of fuel tanks but two engines. About two minutes into the flight they would jettison one of the engines.
- nawitus 13y agoAre you saying it should be single-stage-to-orbit? That's currently technologically nearly impossible, even if the rocket doesn't need to land back to Earth.
- nanofortnight 13y agoNot as technologically impossible as you might think: http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/space_skylon.html http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/space_skylon.html
- tomelders 13y agoI really don't understand why Skylon isn't getting more coverage.