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The rivalry between two billionaires is reducing the cost of space travel
- JPLeRouzic 10y agoThere is something strange about using chemical rockets to go to space. The "rocket equation" tells that we need an ejection speed in the range of 4500 m/sec (ISP ~450) to reach a Low Earth Orbit (a few hundred kilometers). What is strange is that it is not a question of energy, but only of ejection speed. With chemical rockets we are near the upper limit of what can be done, both theoretically and pratically. A rocket engine nearly melts after running a few minutes. And as it runs at the edges of technologies and physics limits, it is highly costly and unsecure. What about inventing new designs? Why could not we use the energy stored in tanks to run a large ion thruster? There are many heat-to-electricity schemes that already used in space hardware!