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I don't think its THAT particularly surprising. The old school rocket engines are still some of the most efficient engines ever created and most rockets never
by tekla 3y ago
I don't think its THAT particularly surprising.
The old school rocket engines are still some of the most efficient engines ever created and most rockets never had a strong commercial market backing it so there was never pressure to try something else. The RS68 and RS25 are still amazing pieces of technology.
SpaceX succeeded because they were able to take advantage of NASA literally creating a commercial market (and also making an amazing engine that is "good enough" for 99% of payloads)
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago> old school rocket engines are still some of the most efficient engines ever created Sure. But there are other niches than maximal ISP. SpaceX and other launch providers have demonstrated it. In both cases—airlines and rocketry—there was latent demand once someone looked for it. And in both cases, I believe, public support is necessary.
- notahacker 3y agoI think the person suggesting their more realistic short term goal is defense funding for future USAF tanker contracts might not be too far from the mark. Whether the fuel economy of an airliner-sized tanker is enough to convince doubting airline execs facing very different operational constraints is another question.
- panick21_ 3y agoThese engines were horrible bad in terms of thrust or isp per $. And turns out that actually matters. There had been a commercial market for a while, but US companies and their amazing engines didnt compete in it. Better to just feed of military contracts.