3 ms·
Correct. You can (super¹)linearly increase launch mass by adding fuel. The rocket equation hits when you're trying to go farther, rather than more massive. ¹ S
by FeepingCreature 7y ago
Correct. You can (super¹)linearly increase launch mass by adding fuel. The rocket equation hits when you're trying to go farther, rather than more massive.
¹ Superlinear because tank mass scales with a lower exponent than tank volume.
- jblwps 7y ago> tank mass scales with a lower exponent than tank volume I'm confused here. How are they not both cubic?
- wtallis 7y agoIt's the mass of the empty tank that's relevant here, because non-propellant mass is what you want to minimize in order to increase deltaV.
- FeepingCreature 7y agoTank dry mass scales (approximately) with surface area.