Re:SpaceX to Send Privately Crewed Dragon Spacecraft Beyond ...
by mulmen on Tuesday February 28, 2017 @01:02AM
(#13751625)
Do the fuels have to remain in a cryogenic state in space? Can much larger containers with warmer fuel be used once the fuel is in orbit? I have no idea if this makes any sense.
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Re:SpaceX to Send Privately Crewed Dragon Spacecraft Beyond ...
by rtkwe on Tuesday February 28, 2017 @09:39AM
(#13753995)
A major problem is pressure. As the fuel heats up and boils off the pressure increases and the tanks have to bleed it off or they'll burst eventually. Also the engine design for cryogenic stages assume a liquid fuel and moving enough gaseous fuel and oxidizer isn't in the current designs.
Re:SpaceX to Send Privately Crewed Dragon Spacecraft Beyond ...
by imglorp on Tuesday February 28, 2017 @07:35AM
(#13753284)
That's a good question. A big bag of fuel hanging outside is a fine place to store it if you don't care about temperature or pressure. You would need some kind of mechanical means to squish the bag to get the fuel out though, so maybe an accordion with a motorized retractor?
Re:SpaceX to Send Privately Crewed Dragon Spacecraft Beyond ...
by robryk on Tuesday February 28, 2017 @12:02PM
(#13755202)
I think you are underestimating expansion ratios (ratio of volume of liquid and gas at reasonable pressure). The ratio for water vapour at sea level is ~1000x. The "large bag" might end up being so large that it's weight is a significant fraction of the weight of the fuel it contains.