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Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by jcun4128 on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @02:25PM (#24063926)
Yeah looks like 3 for 3 so far. It seems like a big number... as opposed to just 5 (Saturn V). What is the rationale for more smaller engines(other than offset/greater forces/new R&D)?
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by NikolaeVarius on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @02:49PM (#24064166)
Losing one means less affect on the overall mission
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by SEJeff on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @04:51PM (#24065451)
Why only turn it up to 11 when you can turn it up to 31? See the Starship dial goes all the way to 31.
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by HPsquared on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @08:14PM (#24066976)
Things have different scaling laws. Very large rocket engines might not be practical for a range of reasons: wall thickness required to contain the high pressures (this is probably a big one) combined with the temperatures, combustion instability, controllability, and general ability to manufacture. Why are elephants and ants differently shaped? Another example is piston engines: large ones generally have lots of (relatively small compared to the overall displacement) cylinders rather than a couple of massive ones.

If a small number of rocket engines was required they would probably have a completely different design, perhaps an aerospike. Or maybe resurrecting Project Orion?

Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by jcun4128 on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @10:14PM (#24067557)
I never quite got the Orion(nuclear?) engine design eg. is it literal "nuclear explosions" or just using nuclear as a heat source.

I think they push fluid through the bells, maybe other materials(like ceramic) for the larger nozzles... can they use magnetic field to contain heat... probably not assumes it's ionized or something ha... heat still goes through magnetism. I got it, active heat destructive interface ha.

Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by garmaine on Thursday August 06, 2020 @02:25AM (#24068587)
Literal nuclear explosions, Every few seconds, with a giant spring to even out the force.
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by maccam94 on Thursday August 06, 2020 @06:42PM (#24076196)
Nuclear thermal rockets are much more interesting IMO because they were actually viable and in development until Nixon killed them for no good reason. They're coming back now though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA

https://spacenews.com/momentum-grows-for-nuclear-thermal-pro... (2019)

Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by SEJeff on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @11:50PM (#24067972)
I take it you've literally never seen this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o

The joke went entirely over your head boss.

Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video] by koalala on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @02:51PM (#24064183)
i suppose 2 could blow up, no problem :)