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The ISS engines might be more efficient than the F-1 was, so the mass could be less than 70 Saturn Vs. Still a ridiculously enormous amount of energy. Makes you
by krallja 10y ago
The ISS engines might be more efficient than the F-1 was, so the mass could be less than 70 Saturn Vs. Still a ridiculously enormous amount of energy. Makes you wonder how we're ever supposed to build anything significant on or around Mars.
- Dylan16807 10y agoIt seems to use UDMH and N2O4 or similar, a hypergolic mix that's convenient for maneuvering thrusters but is not particularly efficient.
- krallja 10y agoThat is the only option which makes sense. LOX isn't good for things which wait. Solids have low efficiency. Hypergolics are a good choice for something that has to sit idle for a very long time, and the chemistry has been understood for decades. I guess I was hoping the Russians had figured out ion thrusters in the 70s or something.