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Comment on NASA Successfully Tests Revolutionary Rocket That Could Get Us to Mars Faster
anonionfinelyminced@kbin.social 8 months ago
It's a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine"
What makes the RDRE so revolutionary is that it makes use of a sustained detonation circling around a ring-shaped channel, fed by a mix of fuel and oxygen which is ignited by each passing explosion.
Crucially, the RDRE uses less propellant fuel than conventional rocket engines, and is simpler in terms of its machinery and mechanisms. That means going into space becomes cheaper, and traveling further distances becomes possible.
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Agent641@lemmy.world 8 months ago
prole@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
That sounds sick. I wonder which sci-fi author came up with this idea ~60 years ago.
c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 8 months ago
My bet’s on Heinlein.
ikidd@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I’d put money on Robert Forward.
T156@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Maybe the Jetsons, or the turbine engines in Star Wars? If you squint hard enough, it comes close enough.
Donebrach@lemmy.world 8 months ago
So it’s truthfully Revolutionary, hark! A spinning engine
LazaroFilm@lemmy.world 8 months ago
So they invented the rocket powered wheel?
firecat@kbin.social 8 months ago
No, it’s just gas powered car that still needs tanks and has everyone knows a around trip back to anywhere requires gas. The “ECO” of space travel.
snugglesthefalse@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
And how else are you going to move things in space? Are you hiding a reactionless drive over there? Less fuel use is a good thing.
firecat@kbin.social 8 months ago
We don’t have unlimited fuel, rockets cost too much fuel. It’s not even normal fuel either, it’s rare chemistry rocket technology that takes a while to develop.
ramjambamalam@lemmy.ca 8 months ago
NASA invented a space ship powered by a rotary engine? Noice.
RangerAndTheCat@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Wankel and Mazda shine blessings upon you and your RX family
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 8 months ago
The wankel and rdre aren’t really related, but they’re similar in that they’re both oddball engines with surprising performance.
Of all of my near future rocket engine predictions, a working aerospike rdre was not on my list… I’m honestly very impressed!