Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Oxygen!

Be nice.

Alcohol may not be the most efficient fuel for rocket use, but Von Braun found it quite suitable for the V-2. When designing reusable launch vehicles, there are other factors than the pure efficiency of the propellant.

Many SSTO designs I have worked on have had the lower efficiency of hydrocarbon fuels (compared to hydrogen) to have been more than compensated for by the smaller size of the propellant tanks. I have not seen designs involving alcohol, but I have seen workable designs that burn standard RP-1 and liquid propane or methane.

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (12 posts)