4 ms·
You ask a good question! When you dig into it, the goal of almost all modern rocket engine optimization is to create a mixture rich in hot hydrogen. For thermod
by QuadmasterXLII 4y ago
You ask a good question! When you dig into it, the goal of almost all modern rocket engine optimization is to create a mixture rich in hot hydrogen. For thermodynamic reasons, smaller molecules move faster at a given temperature, hydrogen is spectacularly smaller than any other molecule, and the most important quality of a rocket engine is its exhaust velocity.
- ncmncm 4y agoAmong the most important qualities of a rocket engine is its exhaust velocity, which determines its efficiency, delta-V per unit mass of fuel/oxidizer burned. Not exploding is probably the actual most important quality. You don't really start tuning for efficiency until you have got that one nailed. Sometimes absolute thrust is more important than efficiency. Perhaps surprisingly, efficiency can be traded off for thrust by getting heavier molecules into the exhaust. They are coming out slower than the naked protons, but not as many times slower as the ratio of their mass to the protons'.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]