I thought that water was useful because it allows you to obtain H and O separately by electrolysis, then combine them for a powerful chemical reaction. Maybe that's what they're doing here and just not being clear about it. The way it's described it sounds like they're just heating up and expelling gaseous water which doesn't make a lot of sense to me, though I'm not an actual rocket scientist

qgmonkey t1_iybo99y wrote on November 30, 2022 at 4:53 AM

#793,628

Try horses next

cannabisized t1_iybog1y wrote on November 30, 2022 at 4:55 AM

#793,696

Replying to Chance_Bluebird_5788 (#793,563)

they called it a "water propellant propulsion system" so I would assume it's just a very scientific way of say they boiled water and directed the steam out to aim themselves along

TronOld_Dumps t1_iybp443 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:01 AM

#793,885

Replying to Lastunexpectedhero (#792,581)

I apologize in advance.....

I think it was actually quite hot.

Muldertak t1_iybqnyo wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:16 AM

#794,301

China Mieville looks on with approval

alphamone t1_iybrfjv wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:24 AM

#794,505

So does it still count as a "cold gas thruster" if the gas is hotter than the usual gases used? (usually nitrogen is used rather than water steam)

passinglurker t1_iybso4s wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:37 AM

#794,843

Replying to cannabisized (#792,704)

The simple steam thruster only has specific impulse of 70ms (for the layman trust me when I say this is low, most propellants measure in the triple digits or more). The reason they are doing this isn't for demonstrating ISRU or colonization technologies, its to demonstrate non-volatile low pressure propulsion and attitude control for rideshares cause primary customers already forking millions for a sat and its ride get nervous about the build quaility of bargain seeking hitchhikers laden with hydrazine.

_MrBalls_ t1_iybtdkx wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM

#795,020

Wow!

24_7_cat_party t1_iybwgwy wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:19 AM

#795,742

"She's chooch'n!"

chadenright t1_iyc06xk wrote on November 30, 2022 at 7:05 AM

#796,712

Replying to FNALSOLUTION1 (#793,200)

Our civilization is founded on steam, built with steam, run by steam, could not survive long without a robust steam economy and many of our greatest advancements in energy and propulsion have either been, "This makes a more efficient steam," or, "This makes a more efficient use of steam."

DuckInTheFog t1_iyc1zmr wrote on November 30, 2022 at 7:29 AM

#797,242

Here's a diagram of their Steampunk rocket. They're making special trousers next

Orqee t1_iyc46um wrote on November 30, 2022 at 7:59 AM

#797,767

You can say that Japanese rocket did blow some serious steam right there.

mattoattacko t1_iyc8qb4 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 9:04 AM

#798,854

Replying to PT6Driver (#793,278)

Fascinating

Blackthorne75 t1_iycbdjx wrote on November 30, 2022 at 9:44 AM

#799,470

Replying to TronOld_Dumps (#793,885)

Never apologise for a well-delivered pun :D

badcatdog t1_iyccnl1 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 10:03 AM

#799,772

What this means, from Wiki:

>The propulsion system, called AQUARIUS, employs 8 water thrusters also used for attitude control (orientation) and momentum management.[10] The spacecraft will carry 1.5 kg of water,[10][11] and the complete propulsion system will occupy about 2.5 units out of the 6 units total spacecraft volume. The waste heat from the communication components is reused to assist in the heating of water vapor, which is heated to 100 °C (212 °F) at the pre-heater.[10] The AQUARIUS' water thrusters produce a total of 4.0 mN, a specific impulse (Isp) of 70 seconds, and consumes about 20 watts power.