Timeline for Could ships in space use a Steam Engine?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
10 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2017 at 2:03 | comment | added | user1496062 | Dont think its that simple many efficient high isp systems have a lot of heavy radiators which disperse heat .Using some of that mass for water and steam would seem more efficient | |
| Oct 14, 2016 at 17:53 | comment | added | njzk2 | @Innovine the weight of water is irrelevant. density might, in terms of container size (and therefore weight) | |
| Oct 14, 2016 at 15:30 | comment | added | Innovine | @njzk2 As is the weight of the extremely inefficient water fuel. | |
| Oct 14, 2016 at 15:28 | comment | added | njzk2 | @Innovine they probably don't scale, indeed. The bulk and weight of a high pressure boiler is certainly very limiting | |
| Oct 14, 2016 at 14:24 | comment | added | Innovine | @njzk2 the mass of the vessel is also important. You need more water to make higher steam pressure. Tyranny of the rocket equation. Steam powered spaceship doesn't scale well, at all. | |
| Oct 14, 2016 at 14:19 | comment | added | Thucydides | Heating water to the point it becomes plasma will dramatically increase ISP, but at that point it no longer is a "steam rocket". | |
| Oct 13, 2016 at 20:17 | comment | added | njzk2 | increase the pressure. the only important factor is how fast the exhaust is | |
| Oct 13, 2016 at 20:04 | comment | added | Innovine | How would you suggest making it faster? Boiling more water? That'll make it heavier... | |
| Oct 13, 2016 at 19:49 | comment | added | njzk2 | how slow only depends on the speed of the exhaust. it does not have to be that slow. | |
| Oct 13, 2016 at 16:58 | history | answered | Innovine | CC BY-SA 3.0 |