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6
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1answer
74 views
How much Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar would I need to reach space?
So here is my problem - as part of my job I present some science demonstrations to children and one of the tricks I regularly use is the bicarb/acetic acid rocket. I thought the other day that a ...
4
votes
1answer
57 views
Orbital mechanics and rocketry: Is it ever a good idea to intentionally lower periapsis?
tl;dr: Hohmann Transfer appears to be the optimal way to achieve a circular-to-circular orbit, but is it possible to lower the periapsis in order to achieve a more elliptical orbit with apoapsis at ...
3
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2answers
130 views
What properties would the ideal material for spacecraft construction possess?
Assuming we develop the capability to send a robot to study Gliese 518, or any of the Earth-like planets discovered in the neighbourhood; the spacecraft would need to travel through the Solar System ...
0
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1answer
40 views
Liquid oxygen how do they use it as fuel?
Rockets are said to be using liquid oxygen as fuel. How do they use liquid oxygen since it's just oxygen, it only helps in the combustion process. How can it be a fuel on its own?
1
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3answers
80 views
What limits the velocity of ships such as voyager 1?
Voyager 1 travels at a small fraction of light speed. I've read it's fueled by hydrazine, which is a cheap combustive. Questions:
What factors limit the speed of voyager 1 and similar rockets? Are ...
0
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2answers
203 views
What alternative shapes may a rocket heading into orbit have?
It looks like most rockets that head out of Earth, or even into orbit are pencil shaped (or nearly so). I would take this to mean there is some mass of air such vehicles push out of their way.
What ...
11
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2answers
915 views
What is the possibility of a railgun assisted orbital launch?
Basic facts: The world's deepest mine is 2.4 miles deep. Railguns can acheive a muzzle velocity of a projectile on the order of 7.5 km/s. The Earth's escape velocity is 11.2 km/s.
It seems to me ...
2
votes
1answer
142 views
What if Felix Baumgartner went the other way?
How much harder would it have been for Felix to use some powered sled and head for the ISS when he stepped out of his capsule? He was already above most of the atmosphere.
BTW, Is that capsule still ...
1
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2answers
137 views
Can someone explain the Hall effect thruster to me?
I am in high school, and am doing a major research project on Russia. Part of that is a section on the space race, and ion engines/hall effect engines have come up several times. Unfortunately, Google ...
3
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3answers
202 views
How do aerospace engineers choose a landing system? (Curiosity rover)
The Sojourner rover with the Mars Pathfinder used a entry, descent, and landing system involving airbags to land on Mars.
The Spirit and Opportunity rovers each used more-or-less the same system ...
1
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2answers
173 views
Space Rocket Lift Efficiency and the Gyroscope?
I'm no physicist apart from basic 3d web animation, I'm just curious and please feel free to correct my misuse of terms or inadequate speculations.
I've been reading a lot on gyroscopes and ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
neutron transport approximations for nuclear rocket modelling
I'm pretty ignorant regarding neutron and nuclear transport modelling, but i'm interested in trying to pursue it for a particular pet project. It regards modelling of nuclear reactions like those ...
12
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5answers
2k views
Why do rockets have multiple stages?
What is the advantage for rockets to have multiple stages?
Wouldn't a single stage with the same amount of fuel weigh less?
Note I would like a quantitative answer, if possible :-)
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Nuclear Salt Water Rockets: viability and follow-up
This is the original paper by R. Zubrin proposing the Nuclear Salt Water Rocket design.
Basically the design is that a capillar set of pipes store a uranium salt-water solution, inside a cadmium ...
4
votes
4answers
384 views
Why are there more vertical takeoff than horizontal for spacecrafts?
Vertical takeoff requires disposable rockets (would it a satellite rocket), which is a money loss, and also a lot of fuel, because initial velocity is zero. Also vertical takeoff seems risky, involves ...
