2006-12-01 10:03:36 · 28 answers · asked by Darren S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Rocket Fuel! lol
2006-12-01 10:04:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a lot of options. But here's how the space shuttle is fueled. The solid rocket booosters use a mix of iron oxide and aluminum. This moderately efficient--and provides a LOT of power to get the shuttle ioff the ground. The main engines are more efficient--in fact they are the most efficient large engines made to date. They use a mix of LOX (liquid oxygen) and LH (liquid hydrogen) and have a specific impulse of 453 seconds (specific impulse is the measure of how efficient arocket engine is).
There are a lot of other chemical fuels that are used--mostly less efficient but have advantages (some don't have to be extremely cold like LOX and LH).
For travel in space you might want to use an ion engine--if you aren't in a hurry. Some deep space probes use these--they have specific impulses of around 3000--which saves fuel. Problem is the produce very little thrust, so it takes a long time to get up any real speed.
In the future, you may be able to use a number of other fuels---once you are in space. I'll give you a few examples for different kinds ofjourneys (this is not a comprehensive list): Note that to date no actual spacecraft uses these fuels/thechnologies.
To the moon/other planets:
NERVA: the fuel is LH heated by a nuclear reactor
alternatives include using solar energy to heat the LH
Thrust is low to moderate; specific impulse (abbr.: Isp) up to around 1000 seconds
or you might use a solar sail (google that one) and not need any fuel, at least on your way out from earth.
For longer jjourneys--to the stars, you'll need either nuclear fusionn (using deuteurium or Helium-3) or antimatter. Plus a very long time--decades at least to reach even the nearest stars (unless someone eventually figures out a way to travel faster than light--but physics as we now know it says that is impossible).
Have a nice trip!
2006-12-01 10:27:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I depends on what you are going to do with it. If you have to take off from earth then anti-matter would be good but once out in space then light would an economic fuel. Slow to get started but once up to speed excellent
2006-12-01 10:07:51 · answer #3 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dylithium Crystals?
2006-12-01 10:06:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liquid Hydrogen.
2006-12-01 10:05:43 · answer #5 · answered by Tk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sausage Vapour.
2006-12-01 10:06:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should pump gas at Mars Gas Station on the corner of Pluto and Venus
2006-12-01 10:05:58 · answer #7 · answered by LIZ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jam. Get your hamsters to roll it in, they have a special process involving segments of Satsumas and axle grease that'l make your engine purr like heaven. Goodluck
2006-12-01 10:16:58 · answer #8 · answered by Hairybolux 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rhubbarb. That stuff works great in my spaceship!!!
Don't eat the leaves though...they will kill you.
2006-12-01 10:07:22 · answer #9 · answered by xxx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
premium unleaded...but you may be able to get by using regular unleaded, until you start hearing the "pinging" in the engine....unless your fuel injectors are tuned to only take premium..
...in which case your stuck pal...better hope you have a HUGE credit limit on that Mastercard of yours!
2006-12-01 15:14:23 · answer #10 · answered by Charlie Bravo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋