Fuel Efficient Five-Gear Rocket Engine Designed

Roland Piquepaille writes "Georgia Tech researchers have had a brilliant idea. Rocket engines used today to launch satellites run at maximum exhaust velocity until they reach orbit. For a car, this would be analog to stay all the time in first gear. So they have designed a new space rocket which works as it has a five-gear transmission system. This rocket engine uses 40 percent less fuel than current ones by running on solar power while in space and by fine-tuning exhaust velocity. But as it was designed with funds from the U.S. Air Force, military applications will be ready before civilian ones. Here is how this new rocket engine works."

pun intended

[User 956]

So they have designed a new space rocket which works as it has a five-gear transmission system.

That must make for some pretty awesome burnouts.

But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-)

[fantomas]

But when I've been in the USA, people only drive cars with automatic gearboxes! how will the astronauts cope with a gear stick (stick shift)? Will they need to pass another spaceship driving test? Will they need to employ more European astronauts as drivers? Will the Russian spaceships leak oil and break down every few kilometres and need roadside rescue? (umm can't think of a suitable Lada joke right now)

(ducks and grins)

yeah, but can it go into reverse?

[pepax]

That's what I wanna know...

So, if they make it

[Lewrker]

12,5 gears it will use 100% less fuel.

Re:But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-)

[dbIII]

Will the Russian spaceships leak oil and break down every few kilometres

In Soviet Russia rockets still launch you.

Capt'n!

[StarfishOne]

Engineer > Capt'n, the engines canna take it anymore!

Captain > Sure they can.. *presses clutch*... hey! ensign! pull that large lever over there will ya!

*ensign pulls huge lever with a lot of effort*

*clunk*

Captain > Don't they teach people at the Academy how to put a star ship transmission into overdrive anymore? Sheesh.. :D

Re:But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-)

[Anonymous Coward]

But when I've been in the USA, people only drive cars with automatic gearboxes!

The Border Patrol does tend to prefer them, but there are a great many people not affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Re:But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-)

[MightyYar]

Our women control us - I can't have a car with a stick shift because then my wife can't drive it :(

I guess if I bought a cool enough car she might learn. But then it's chicken and egg - how can I get this cool car without using a lot of our money, which I'd need permission to spend on a car that she can't drive?

Re:Can someone buy this Roland guy some books

[ceoyoyo]

I think we've all bought Roland quite enough.