New Molecule Could Lead To Better Rocket Fuel 121
MithrandirAgain writes "Trinitramid is the name of the new molecule that may be a component in future rocket fuel. This fuel could be 20 to 30 percent more efficient in comparison with the best rocket fuels available today, according to researchers (abstract). The discovery was made at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden. 'A rule of thumb is that for every ten-percent increase in efficiency for rocket fuel, the payload of the rocket can double. What's more, the molecule consists only of nitrogen and oxygen, which would make the rocket fuel environmentally friendly. This is more than can be said of today's solid rocket fuels, which entail the emission of the equivalent of 550 tons of concentrated hydrochloric acid for each launch of the space shuttle,' says Tore Brinck, professor of physical chemistry at KTH."
Re:Hydrochloric acid? (Score:4, Insightful)
In even smaller words: Nothing you said addresses the parent posts questions.
Re:Solid rockets (Score:4, Insightful)
Odds are the RSO wouldn't be able to fire the charges in the 100 mS it takes to exceed load limits due to an asymmetrical SRB firing.
Doesn't really matter, because everyone dies either way: the shuttle will crash and burn if it's on the pad with one SRB missing. All you have to do is ensure you destroy the SRB before it goes flying off across Florida and crashes into a bus full of nuns and orphans on their way to Disneyland.
Re:Solid rockets (Score:5, Insightful)
> Wikipedia is contradicting itself?
No. There are extinguishable solid-fuel rockets. The shuttle SRBs are not among them.