🚀 go-pugleaf

>george william herbert writes:
>aluminum is the wrong fuel to use if it's an earth based application.

Most discussion has centered on an Al rocket being used for exporting 
Lunar material, probably as a second stage to a mass driver or laser 
launcher.  A mass driver would need a rocket on its payload anyway for 
orbit circularization and course corrections.  Aluminum is the most 
energetic of the common lunar materials (runner-ups Si, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ca).

>Bruce Dunn writes:
>When the
>aluminum is melted in the tank, the fuel line, valve, and injector will all
>be heated to above the melting point of aluminum.

I'd hate to see the performance hit from carrying a heater that 
powerful.  Wouldn't it make more sense to pump the aluminum onto the 
rocket as a liquid and only have a heater powerful enough to offset 
cooling?


Karl
sold my soul to Uncle Sam . . . now marked down for resale.