Rockets need so much fuel because they need to be able to lift the weight of the fuel. It's a self-compounding problem.
*Just* lifing the payload is a tiny fraction of the fuel energy needed. Buggered Benzmail via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> writes: > I recall in rocket design the big factor was energy density of fuel by mass > and volume, both of which dictate how much the rocket has to carry and > contain, which affects various performance parameters. I’m sure the same > factors are at play in OTR vehicle design. Seems like liquid hydrocarbons > fuels have the highest energy density by volume (and mass?), which makes them > most attractive. NG, H, electrons, maybe not so much. > > I guess they all have some smart engineers and computers that can run the > numbers, and bean counters and marketing whizzes to address those issues. > > A coupla years ago the port here subsidized truck owners to buy newer-engined > trucks to lower emissions from the container haulers. I think it worked out > fairly well. > > --FT _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
