How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work?

Re:How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work? by lisper on Saturday February 03, 2024 @08:52PM (#39246747)

It's a moot point, but I still want to point out that "a gas lighter than hydrogen" is a thing: it is simply hydrogen at a higher temperature, i.e. a hot-hydrogen balloon, analogous to a hot-air balloon.

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Re:How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work? by simcop2387 on Saturday February 03, 2024 @08:59PM (#39246785)

I do not want to ride in a hot hydrogen balloon :)

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Re:How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work? by eru on Saturday February 03, 2024 @10:50PM (#39247382)

Why not? Hydrogen inside a hydrogen atmosphere is perfectly safe.

It's hydrogen inside an oxygen atmosphere that's the problem.

(So on Jupiter, you wouldn't want to ride in an oxygen balloon, ie you wouldn't want to ride in a hot air balloon there.)

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Re:How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work? by thfuran on Saturday February 03, 2024 @08:57PM (#39246778)

Well, maybe if there's no oxygen nearby.

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Re:How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work? by lisper on Saturday February 03, 2024 @09:15PM (#39246888)

If you have a planet with a hydrogen atmosphere, it's a pretty good bet there is no (free) oxygen nearby.

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Re:How much bigger could Earth be before rockets wouldn't work? by thfuran on Saturday February 03, 2024 @10:55PM (#39247403)

Fair point

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