3 ms·
If Q < 1, aren't you better off with an ion drive that just shoots the hydrogen out the back? You still need to get most of the energy from somewhere other tha
by kristianp 1y ago
If Q < 1, aren't you better off with an ion drive that just shoots the hydrogen out the back? You still need to get most of the energy from somewhere other than the fusion drive.
- thehappypm 1y agoEnergy and thrust are not equivalent. There’s hardly any limit to how much energy you can generate in space (for example using a nuclear reactor), but fuel is the limiting factor.
- TorKlingberg 1y agoBy "fuel", do you mean reaction mass (stuff that shoots out the back of the rocket) or energy source? A nuclear reactor in space would require an enormous heat sink to get useful energy out.