Discussion on question by TheMatrix Equation-balance: Can Solid Rockets (Aluminum-Ice) have an advantage when designing light space-tug for LEO?

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10:32

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Q: Can Solid Rockets (Aluminum-Ice) have an advantage when designing light space-tug for LEO?

This is a new subject for Space Industry – heavy spacecraft (1200-ton) in LEO that have to burn hundreds of tons of propellant to get going to their destination. It looks inefficient to launch 7+ fuel tankers just to fill up SpaceX Starship in LEO and then burn 40% of Starship’s fuel in a first o...

Starship is go for launch

The goal is to be cheap, so they dont want something expendable @The Matrix Equation-balance

TheMatrix Equation-balance

@Starshipisgoforlaunch - I am talking about reusable Space-Tug. It has to be light, otherwise it will be very expensive to return it back to LEO after the boost assistance. Or, can you imagine a space-tug with huge fuel tanks?

GdD

How are you thinking the tug and it's fuel will get there?

Starship is go for launch

"expandable" @TheMatrixEquation-balance

Organic Marble

What, exactly, is an "expandable solid fuel booster"?

TheMatrix Equation-balance

10:32

@GdD - Lift of 1 solid booster instead of one Fuel-Tanker trip ?

@OrganicMarble - "expandable solid fuel booster"? - think of Shuttle

Organic Marble

Do you mean "expendable" perhaps?

So the idea is, carry up solid boosters, with their poor Isp, instead of carrying up liquid fuel, with its good Isp?

TheMatrix Equation-balance

@OrganicMarble - Yes, and save on spacecraft weight - eliminating the need for large propellant tanks and insulation.

Organic Marble

I'm afraid the problems with this idea go back to the rocket equation, which you struggled with before.

TheMatrix Equation-balance

@OrganicMarble - It is a free country. You can love Tsiolkovsky or you can prefer Newton.

Organic Marble

That is a false dichotomy.

GdD

10:32

Your country can be as free as you like @TheMatrixEquation-balance but you can't break the laws of physics in any of them.

Starship is go for launch

Voting to close @TheMatrixEquation-balance

"Need to rehabilitate this question. It would allow me to ask new questions on this site." Dont just bump, improve the post @TheMatrixEquation-balance

Rory Alsop

@TheMatrixEquation-balance - editing a post with no improvement and the sole aim being to bump it is NOT acceptable. If you can make a good edit, please do it. Otherwise, DO NOT edit the post!

Rory Alsop

10:56

This behaviour is likely to negatively impact your ability to ask posts

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