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Fuel Efficient Five-Gear Rocket Engine Designed

Posted by Zonk on from the next-they-need-to-make-a-death-ray-for-peaceful-purposes dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Georgia Tech researchers have had a brilliant idea. Rocket engines used today to launch satellites run at maximum exhaust velocity until they reach orbit. For a car, this would be analog to stay all the time in first gear. So they have designed a new space rocket which works as it has a five-gear transmission system. This rocket engine uses 40 percent less fuel than current ones by running on solar power while in space and by fine-tuning exhaust velocity. But as it was designed with funds from the U.S. Air Force, military applications will be ready before civilian ones. Here is how this new rocket engine works."

9 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. pun intended by User+956 · · Score: 2, Funny

    So they have designed a new space rocket which works as it has a five-gear transmission system.

    That must make for some pretty awesome burnouts.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-) by fantomas · · Score: 3, Funny

    But when I've been in the USA, people only drive cars with automatic gearboxes! how will the astronauts cope with a gear stick (stick shift)? Will they need to pass another spaceship driving test? Will they need to employ more European astronauts as drivers? Will the Russian spaceships leak oil and break down every few kilometres and need roadside rescue? (umm can't think of a suitable Lada joke right now)

    (ducks and grins)

    1. Re:But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-) by dbIII · · Score: 3, Funny

      Will the Russian spaceships leak oil and break down every few kilometres

      In Soviet Russia rockets still launch you.

    2. Re:But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      But when I've been in the USA, people only drive cars with automatic gearboxes!

      The Border Patrol does tend to prefer them, but there are a great many people not affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    3. Re:But Americans can only drive automatics! ;-) by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Our women control us - I can't have a car with a stick shift because then my wife can't drive it :(

      I guess if I bought a cool enough car she might learn. But then it's chicken and egg - how can I get this cool car without using a lot of our money, which I'd need permission to spend on a car that she can't drive?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  3. yeah, but can it go into reverse? by pepax · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's what I wanna know...

  4. So, if they make it by Lewrker · · Score: 1, Funny

    12,5 gears it will use 100% less fuel.

  5. Capt'n! by StarfishOne · · Score: 3, Funny

    Engineer > Capt'n, the engines canna take it anymore!

    Captain > Sure they can.. *presses clutch*... hey! ensign! pull that large lever over there will ya!

    *ensign pulls huge lever with a lot of effort*

    *clunk*

    Captain > Don't they teach people at the Academy how to put a star ship transmission into overdrive anymore? Sheesh.. :D

  6. Re:Can someone buy this Roland guy some books by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think we've all bought Roland quite enough.