4 ms·
Rocket equation applies to more than just chemical fuel. The article quoted 1T for about a watt of input, which is ludicrously efficient. So the higher field
by squeedles 2y ago
Rocket equation applies to more than just chemical fuel.
The article quoted 1T for about a watt of input, which is ludicrously efficient. So the higher field means more thrust. Less input power means less power generation hardware mass and less cooling hardware mass, which will compound with the higher thrust for a very favorable specific impulse.
Very exciting, and I wish them well!
- squeedles 2y agoAlso, when did the Standard Breakfast Equivalent for torus become a bagel instead of the established donut :-)
- wat10000 2y agoWoke is ruining everything!
- Smoosh 2y agoYour comment has just made me realise that when people say “woke” to mean “anything I don’t like” the subtext is “I don’t want to face up to the responsibility and effort required to participate in a decent society. I just want to do whatever I like without consequences.” Thanks for providing the trigger for my insight.
- wat10000 2y agoI’m glad my stupid joke served some purpose.
- rsynnott 2y agoSugar tax.
- jolt42 2y agoBut not a calorie tax.
- SecretDreams 2y agoTotally agreed. The same logic applies to really all forms of transportation. Mass begets mass.
- Ancalagon 2y agoMass baguettes mass!
- colanderman 2y agoExperimentally baguettes are bad for superconductor operations: https://www.theregister.com/2009/11/05/lhc_bread_bomb_dump_incident/ https://www.theregister.com/2009/11/05/lhc_bread_bomb_dump_i...
- Ajedi32 2y agoSo is this just a more efficient form of ion propulsion? Or does it have enough thrust to potentially supplant chemical rockets for some lower-thrust use cases?
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> Rocket equation applies to more than just chemical fuel But it doesn’t apply when you’re collecting energy in situ. The article proposes solar panels. Rocket/wagon equation doesn’t apply.
- minetest2048 2y agoWhat rocket equation cares is reaction mass not energy: ve * ln(m0/mf) where ve is exhaust velocity, m0 is initial total mass, which is dry mass + propellant mass, and mf is dry mass
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> What rocket equation cares is reaction mass not energy: ve Break out exhaust velocity.