Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Re: Alternative Fuels for Space Shuttles

Oxygen!

Alcohols are already PRE-oxidised. they contain -OH groups. This means you need more weight of alcohol to produce the same energy.

Alcohols are less efficient fuels than pure hydrocarbons, either in automobiles or spacecraft.

In automobiles it merely costs money and engine life (look at the mass of discontent about oxygenated fuels in California). For spacecraft, less efficient fuels cost altitute, payload, and safety.

SM, learn to THINK, you idiot!

Next you'll be proposing nitroglycerine as a spacecraft fuel "because it doesn't need an oxidiser"

- I leave it as an exercise in chemistry, physics, and elementary common sense why this is not a good idea.

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