| PROPULSION ENGINE TYPES | ||
A comparison of the two propellant types reveals each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Besides usually being a lighter weight, solid fueled rockets are also relatively simple in design when compared to the liquid fueled types. This simplicity is their chief advantage. Since the rate at which fuel burns (and the resulting thrust) is dependent on the surface area of exposed propellant, solid fuel rockets can be designed with very large thrust. However, once a solid rocket is ignited, it will consume all of its fuel, without any option for shutoff or thrust adjustment. Another key disadvantage is the danger that the premixed fuel and oxidizer might become unstable and detonate. |
|
|
| 22 of 39 | ||