Difference between revisions of "Reaction engine"
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=== Liquid fuel rocket engines === | === Liquid fuel rocket engines === | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | Most liquid fuel engines utilize a mixture of [[liquid fuel]] and liquid [[oxidizer]] in a 9:11 ratio — generally called “rocket fuel”. The exceptions{{check version||1.0.4}} are the [[O-10 MonoPropellant Engine]] which uses [[monopropellant]] and the [[LV-N "Nerv" Atomic Rocket Motor]] which only consumes liquid fuel (heating it in the core of a nuclear reactor rather than combusting it with oxidizer). In the real world, typical liquid fuels are liquid hydrogen and a highly-refined kerosene blend called RP-1, and typical oxidizers are liquid oxygen and nitrous oxide. | |
All liquid fuel rocket engines can be staged and respond to [[throttle]] controls. All engines use [[w:Bell nozzle|Bell nozzles]] except the [[Toroidal Aerospike Rocket]]. | All liquid fuel rocket engines can be staged and respond to [[throttle]] controls. All engines use [[w:Bell nozzle|Bell nozzles]] except the [[Toroidal Aerospike Rocket]]. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
==== Advantages ==== | ==== Advantages ==== | ||
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* Some have [[Gimbal|gimbals]] giving thrust vectoring to help steer the craft | * Some have [[Gimbal|gimbals]] giving thrust vectoring to help steer the craft | ||
* Available in a wide range of thrusts and efficiencies, all using the same fuel supply | * Available in a wide range of thrusts and efficiencies, all using the same fuel supply | ||
− | * Fuel and oxidizer can be moved between tanks or | + | * Fuel and oxidizer can be moved between tanks or refueled from another vessel during missions |
* Engines and fuel need not be mounted in the same location on the ship, expanding design possibilities | * Engines and fuel need not be mounted in the same location on the ship, expanding design possibilities | ||
Revision as of 04:59, 12 September 2015
A reaction engine is an engine that works via “equal and opposite reaction” as in Newton's third law of motion. Specifically, they generate thrust by expelling reaction mass in the opposite direction as their acceleration. For our purposes, the reaction mass propelled outward is always a form of fuel, though not always one modelled on chemical reactions.
Contents
Types
Different sources classify kinds of reaction engine a bit differently, but all contradistinguish those which must collect outside material from those using only onboard material as reaction mass.
Staying relevant to KSP, we separate out air-breathing jet engines which can only operate inside an oxygen-rich atmosphere from those able to operate in space. All[outdated] use the same resources and are controlled the same way.
All[outdated] KSP's other reaction engines can operate using only resources stored or generated onboard and are collectively called rocket engines. There are many types of rocket engines. They differ by the kind of fuel they use and the controls used to operate them in-game.
Listed below are general descriptions of jet engines and several broad types of rocket engines along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Jet engines
- → Main article: Jet engine
Jet engines use the same fuel as rocket engines, but unlike them jets draw oxygen from the atmosphere using air intakes rather than carrying the weight of oxidizer onboard. This is represented in-game by a much lower rate of fuel consumption. The classical rocket equation doesn't hold valid for them. In flight they face the trade-off between the lower atmosphere where intake air is easily available at lower speeds but air resistance is greater, and the upper atmosphere where there's less air resistance but higher speeds are required to collect sufficient intake air.
Advantages
- Excellent fuel efficiency
- Excellent power to weight ratio
- All current[outdated] jet engines provide thrust vectoring for greater maneuverability
Disadvantages
- Cannot be used outside of an oxygenated atmosphere.
- Thrust output changes depending on speed
- Efficiency changes depending on altitude
- Requires time to “spool up” thrust, lagging behind throttle setting
- Engines available only in 1.25m/Size 1[outdated]
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Mass (t) |
Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) |
Thrust (kN) |
TWR | Fuel (/s) |
Intake (/s) |
Isp (s) | TVC (°) |
Reverse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J-20 "Juno" Basic Jet Engine | Tiny | 450 | 0.25 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 20.0 Mach 0 20.6 Mach 1.3 |
8.16 Mach 0 8.40 Mach 1.3 |
0.064 | 1.402 | 6 400 | — | No | |
J-33 "Wheesley" Turbofan Engine | Small | 1 400 | 1.5 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 120.0 Mach 0 | 8.16 Mach 0 | 0.233 | 29.601 | 10 500 | — | Yes | |
J-404 "Panther" Afterburning Turbofan | Small | 2 000 | 1.2 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 85.00 Mach 0 107.89 Mach 1.75 / 130.00 Mach 0 219.48 Mach 2.5 |
7.22 Mach 0 9.17 Mach 1.75 / 11.05 Mach 0 18.65 Mach 2.5 |
0.193 / 0.663 |
7.705 / 7.954 |
9 000 / 4 000 |
10.0 | No | |
J-X4 "Whiplash" Turbo Ramjet Engine | Small | 2 250 | 1.8 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 130.00 Mach 0 386.66 Mach 3.0 |
7.36 Mach 0 21.90 Mach 3.0 |
0.663 | 5.303 | 4 000 | 1.0 | No | |
J-90 "Goliath" Turbofan Engine | Radial mounted | 2 600 | 4.5 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 360.0 Mach 0 | 8.16 Mach 0 | 0.583 | 132.273 | 12 600 | — | Yes | |
CR-7 R.A.P.I.E.R. Engine[Note 1] | Small | 6 000 | 2.0 | 2 000 | 20 | 50 | 105.00 Mach 0 465.64 Mach 3.75 |
5.35 Mach 0 23.74 Mach 3.75 |
0.669 | 4.015 | 3 200 | 3.0 | No |
- ↑ The R.A.P.I.E.R. Engine is a combination of liquid fuel and jet engine. Only the jet engine properties are shown.
Liquid Fuel Density is 5 kg/unit | Mass (t) |
Liquid Fuel () | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Full | Empty | Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) | |
Engine Nacelle[Note 1] | Small | 600 (480) |
0.925 | 0.15 | 2 000 | 10 | 50 | 150 | |
Engine Pre-cooler[Note 1] | Small | 1 650 (1 618) |
0.375 | 0.15 | 2 000 | 10 | 50 | 40 | |
Mk1 Diverterless Supersonic Intake[Note 1] | Small | 720 (560) |
1.18 | 0.17 | 2 000 | 10 | 50 | 200 | |
Mk0 Liquid Fuel Fuselage | Tiny | 200 (160) |
0.275 | 0.025 | 2 000 | 10 | 50 | 50 | |
Mk1 Liquid Fuel Fuselage | Small | 550 (230) |
2.25 | 0.25 | 2 000 | 10 | 50 | 400 | |
Mk2 Liquid Fuel Fuselage Short | Mk2 | 750 (430) |
2.29 | 0.29 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 400 | |
Mk2 Liquid Fuel Fuselage | Mk2 | 1 450 (810) |
4.57 | 0.57 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 800 | |
Mk3 Liquid Fuel Fuselage Short | Mk3 | 4 300 (2 300) |
14.29 | 1.79 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 2 500 | |
Mk3 Liquid Fuel Fuselage | Mk3 | 8 600 (4 600) |
28.57 | 3.57 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 5 000 | |
Mk3 Liquid Fuel Fuselage Long | Mk3 | 17 200 (9 200) |
57.14 | 7.14 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 10 000 | |
NCS Adapter | Small, Tiny | 320 (256) |
0.5 | 0.1 | 2 400 | 10 | 50 | 80 | |
FAT-455 Aeroplane Main Wing[Note 2] | X | 2 800 (2 320) |
3.78 | 0.78 | 1 200 | 15 | 50 | 600 | |
Big-S Wing Strake[Note 2] | X | 1 000 (920) |
0.6 | 0.1 | 2 400 | 15 | 50 | 100 | |
Big-S Delta Wing[Note 2] | X | 3 000 (2 760) |
2.0 | 0.5 | 2 400 | 15 | 50 | 300 |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Engine Nacelle, Engine Pre-cooler, and Mk1 Diverterless Supersonic Intake are a combination of air intake and liquid fuel tank. Only the tank properties are shown. They are located in the "Aerodynamic" category in the game.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The FAT-455 Aeroplane Main Wing, Big-S Wing Strake, and Big-S Delta Wing are a combination of lifting surface and liquid fuel tank. Only the tank properties are shown. They are located in the "Aerodynamic" category in the game.
Solid fuel rocket engines
- → Main article: Solid rocket booster
The most basic type of rocket engine is the solid fuel rocket. Solid fuel is simply a self-oxidizing compound or mixture within a casing with a nozzle at the end to direct the exhaust gases produced. It offers no real control beyond choosing when to ignite it, though tweakables enable altering the thrust limit and total fuel.
Advantages
- Very high thrust-to-weight ratio, especially in-atmosphere (vs. high-efficiency vacuum-optimized liquid-fuel engines)
- Very cheap
- Engine and fuel tank are combined in one part, lowering part count and simplifying design
Disadvantages
- Cannot be throttled or switched off after ignition
- Cannot be refueled or transfer fuel stored elsewhere on the craft
- No thrust vectoring
- Low efficiency compared to other types of engines
Solid Fuel Density is 7.5 kg/unit | Mass (t) |
Fuel () |
Thrust (kN) |
TWR | Isp (s) | Burn (s) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full | Empty | |||||||||||||||||
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Full | Empty | Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) |
atm | vac | atm | vac | atm | vac | atm | vac | ||
RT-5 "Flea" Solid Fuel Booster | Small, Radial mounted | 200 (116) |
1.50 | 0.45 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 140 | 162.91 | 192.0 | 11.07 | 13.05 | 36.92 | 43.51 | 140 | 165 | 8.8 | |
RT-10 "Hammer" Solid Fuel Booster | Small, Radial mounted | 400 (175) |
3.56 | 0.75 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 375 | 197.90 | 227.0 | 5.66 | 6.50 | 26.91 | 30.86 | 170 | 195 | 23.7 | |
BACC "Thumper" Solid Fuel Booster | Small, Radial mounted | 850 (358) |
7.65 | 1.50 | 2 200 | 7 | 50 | 820 | 250.00 | 300.0 | 3.33 | 4.00 | 17.00 | 20.39 | 175 | 210 | 42.2 | |
S1 SRB-KD25k "Kickback" Solid Fuel Booster | Small, Radial mounted | 2 700 (1 140) |
24.00 | 4.50 | 2 200 | 7 | 50 | 2 600 | 593.86 | 670.0 | 2.52 | 2.85 | 13.46 | 15.18 | 195 | 220 | 62.8 | |
Sepratron I | Radial mounted | 75 (70.2) |
0.0725 | 0.0125 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 8 | 13.79 | 18.0 | 19.40 | 25.32 | 112.51 | 146.84 | 118 | 154 | 5.0 | |
FM1 "Mite" Solid Fuel Booster | Tiny, Radial mounted | 75 (51.0) |
0.375 | 0.075 | 2 200 | 7 | 50 | 40 | 11.012 | 12.5 | 2.93 | 3.33 | 14.68 | 16.66 | 185 | 210 | 49.44 | |
F3S0 "Shrimp" Solid Fuel Booster | Tiny, Radial mounted | 150 (96.0) |
0.875 | 0.155 | 2 200 | 7 | 50 | 90 | 26.512 | 30.0 | 3.22 | 3.65 | 17.1 | 19.35 | 190 | 215 | 47.44 | |
S2-17 "Thoroughbred" Solid Fuel Booster | Large, Radial mounted | 9 000 (4 200.0) |
70.00 | 10.00 | 2 200 | 10 | 50 | 8 000 | 1 515.217 | 1 700.0 | 2.16 | 2.43 | 15.15 | 17.0 | 205 | 230 | 79.6 | |
S2-33 "Clydesdale" Solid Fuel Booster | Large, Radial mounted | 18 500 (8 660.0) |
144.00 | 21.00 | 2 200 | 10 | 50 | 16 400 | 2 948.936 | 3 300.0 | 2.05 | 2.29 | 14.04 | 15.71 | 210 | 235 | 85.9 |
Liquid fuel rocket engines
Most liquid fuel engines utilize a mixture of liquid fuel and liquid oxidizer in a 9:11 ratio — generally called “rocket fuel”. The exceptions[outdated] are the O-10 MonoPropellant Engine which uses monopropellant and the LV-N "Nerv" Atomic Rocket Motor which only consumes liquid fuel (heating it in the core of a nuclear reactor rather than combusting it with oxidizer). In the real world, typical liquid fuels are liquid hydrogen and a highly-refined kerosene blend called RP-1, and typical oxidizers are liquid oxygen and nitrous oxide.
All liquid fuel rocket engines can be staged and respond to throttle controls. All engines use Bell nozzles except the Toroidal Aerospike Rocket.
Advantages
- Work both in vacuum and in atmosphere
- Variable throttle allows different levels of thrust at different times, or for the engines to be shut down entirely and restarted later in the flight
- Full thrust output on demand without “spool up” time like jets
- Some have gimbals giving thrust vectoring to help steer the craft
- Available in a wide range of thrusts and efficiencies, all using the same fuel supply
- Fuel and oxidizer can be moved between tanks or refueled from another vessel during missions
- Engines and fuel need not be mounted in the same location on the ship, expanding design possibilities
Disadvantages
- Lower thrust-to-weight ratio compared to solid rocket engines
- Less efficient in atmosphere than jet engines
- Less efficient in space than ion engines
- Separation of engine and fuel leads to increased part count for all except the KR-1x2.
Thrust (kN) |
T/W ratio |
Max. Fuel Consumption (/s) |
Isp (s) | TVC | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Mass (t) |
Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) |
atm | vac | atm | vac | atm | vac | Gimbal (°) | |
LV-1R "Spider" Liquid Fuel Engine | Radial mounted | 120 | 0.02 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 1.79 | 2.0 | 9.14 | 10.20 | 0.141 | 260 | 290 | 10.0 | |
24-77 "Twitch" Liquid Fuel Engine | Radial mounted | 230 | 0.08 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 15.17 | 16.0 | 19.34 | 20.39 | 1.125 | 275 | 290 | 8.0 | |
Mk-55 "Thud" Liquid Fuel Engine | Radial mounted | 820 | 0.90 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 108.20 | 120.0 | 12.26 | 13.60 | 8.024 | 275 | 305 | 8.0 | |
O-10 "Puff" MonoPropellant Fuel Engine[Note 1] | Radial mounted | 150 | 0.09 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 9.60 | 20.0 | 10.88 | 22.66 | 2.039 | 120 | 250 | 6.0 | |
LV-1 "Ant" Liquid Fuel Engine | Tiny, Radial mounted | 110 | 0.02 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 0.51 | 2.0 | 2.59 | 10.20 | 0.129 | 80 | 315 | — | |
48-7S "Spark" Liquid Fuel Engine | Tiny | 240 | 0.13 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 16.56 | 20.0 | 12.99 | 15.69 | 1.275 | 265 | 320 | 3.0 | |
LV-909 "Terrier" Liquid Fuel Engine | Small | 390 | 0.50 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 14.78 | 60.0 | 3.01 | 12.24 | 3.547 | 85 | 345 | 4.0 | |
LV-T30 "Reliant" Liquid Fuel Engine | Small | 1 100 | 1.25 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 205.16 | 240.0 | 16.74 | 19.58 | 15.789 | 265 | 310 | — | |
LV-T45 "Swivel" Liquid Fuel Engine | Small | 1 200 | 1.50 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 167.97 | 215.0 | 11.42 | 14.62 | 13.703 | 250 | 320 | 3.0 | |
S3 KS-25 "Vector" Liquid Fuel Engine | Small, Radial mounted | 18 000 | 4.00 | 2 000 | 22 | 50 | 936.51 | 1 000.0 | 23.87 | 25.49 | 64.745 | 295 | 315 | 10.5 | |
T-1 Toroidal Aerospike "Dart" Liquid Fuel Engine | Small, Radial mounted | 3 850 | 1.00 | 2 000 | 20 | 50 | 153.53 | 180.0 | 15.66 | 18.35 | 10.797 | 290 | 340 | — | |
LV-N "Nerv" Atomic Rocket Motor[Note 2] | Small | 10 000 | 3.00 | 2 500 | 12 | 50 | 13.88 | 60.0 | 0.47 | 2.04 | 1.530 | 185 | 800 | — | |
RE-L10 "Poodle" Liquid Fuel Engine | Large | 1 300 | 1.75 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 64.29 | 250.0 | 3.75 | 14.57 | 14.568 | 90 | 350 | 4.5 | |
RE-I5 "Skipper" Liquid Fuel Engine | Large | 5 300 | 3.00 | 2 000 | 8 | 50 | 568.75 | 650.0 | 19.33 | 22.09 | 41.426 | 280 | 320 | 2.0 | |
RE-M3 "Mainsail" Liquid Fuel Engine | Large | 13 000 | 6.00 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 1 379.03 | 1 500.0 | 23.44 | 25.49 | 98.683 | 285 | 310 | 2.0 | |
LFB KR-1x2 "Twin-Boar" Liquid Fuel Engine[Note 3] | Large, Radial mounted | 17 000 (14 062.4) |
42.50 (10.50) |
2 000 | 20 | 50 | 1 866.67 | 2 000.0 | 4.48 (18.13) |
4.80 (19.42) |
135.964 | 280 | 300 | 1.5 | |
Kerbodyne KR-2L+ "Rhino" Liquid Fuel Engine | Extra large | 25 000 | 9.00 | 2 000 | 7 | 50 | 1 205.88 | 2 000.0 | 13.66 | 22.66 | 119.968 | 205 | 340 | 4.0 | |
S3 KS-25x4 "Mammoth" Liquid Fuel Engine | Extra large | 39 000 | 15.00 | 2 000 | 20 | 50 | 3 746.03 | 4 000.0 | 25.47 | 27.19 | 258.978 | 295 | 315 | 2.0 | |
CR-7 R.A.P.I.E.R. Engine[Note 4] | Small | 6 000 | 2.00 | 2 000 | 20 | 50 | 162.30 | 180.0 | 8.27 | 9.18 | 12.036 | 275 | 305 | 3.0 |
- ↑ Consumes monopropellant. (the density of monopropellant is less: 4kg/unit)
- ↑ Consumes liquid fuel only.
- ↑ The LFB KR-1x2 is a liquid fuel booster -- a combination of a "normal" engine and a fuel tank.
- ↑ The R.A.P.I.E.R. Engine is a combination of liquid fuel and jet engine. Only the liquid fuel engine properties are shown.
Liquid fuel and oxidizer density are both 5 kg/unit | Mass (t) |
Liquid Fuel () |
Oxidizer () | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Full | Empty | Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) | ||
R-4 'Dumpling' External Tank | X | 50 (39.90) |
0.1238 | 0.0138 | 2 000 | 5 | 50 | 9.9 | 12.1 | |
R-11 'Baguette' External Tank | X | 50 (25.21) |
0.3038 | 0.0338 | 2 000 | 5 | 50 | 24.3 | 29.7 | |
R-12 'Doughnut' External Tank | Small | 147 (119.46) |
0.3375 | 0.0375 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 27 | 33 | |
Oscar-B Fuel Tank | Tiny | 70 (51.64) |
0.225 | 0.025 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 18 | 22 | |
FL-T100 Fuel Tank | Small | 150 (104.1) |
0.5625 | 0.0625 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 45 | 55 | |
FL-T200 Fuel Tank | Small | 275 (183.2) |
1.125 | 0.125 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 90 | 110 | |
FL-T400 Fuel Tank | Small | 500 (316.4) |
2.25 | 0.25 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 180 | 220 | |
FL-T800 Fuel Tank | Small | 800 (432.8) |
4.5 | 0.5 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
Rockomax X200-8 Fuel Tank | Large | 800 (432.8) |
4.5 | 0.5 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
Rockomax X200-16 Fuel Tank | Large | 1 550 (815.6) |
9 | 1 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 720 | 880 | |
Rockomax X200-32 Fuel Tank | Large | 3 000 (1 531.2) |
18 | 2 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 1 440 | 1 760 | |
Rockomax Jumbo-64 Fuel Tank | Large | 5 750 (2 812.4) |
36 | 4 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 2 880 | 3 520 | |
Kerbodyne S3-3600 Tank | Extra large | 3 250 (1 597.6) |
20.25 | 2.25 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 1 620 | 1 980 | |
Kerbodyne S3-7200 Tank | Extra large | 6 500 (3 195.2) |
40.5 | 4.5 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 3 240 | 3 960 | |
Kerbodyne S3-14400 Tank | Extra large | 13 000 (6 390.4) |
81 | 9 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 6 480 | 7 920 | |
Mk2 Rocket Fuel Fuselage Short | Mk2 | 750 (566.4) |
2.29 | 0.29 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 180 | 220 | |
Mk2 Rocket Fuel Fuselage | Mk2 | 1 450 (1 082.8) |
4.57 | 0.57 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
Mk3 Rocket Fuel Fuselage Short | Mk3 | 2 500 (1 352.5) |
14.29 | 1.79 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 1 125 | 1 375 | |
Mk3 Rocket Fuel Fuselage | Mk3 | 5 000 (2 705) |
28.57 | 3.57 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 2 250 | 2 750 | |
Mk3 Rocket Fuel Fuselage Long | Mk3 | 10 000 (5 410) |
57.14 | 7.14 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 4 500 | 5 500 | |
C7 Brand Adapter - 2.5m to 1.25m | Small, Large | 800 (433.0) |
4.57 | 0.57 | 2 300 | 20 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
C7 Brand Adapter Slanted - 2.5m to 1.25m | Small, Large | 800 (433.0) |
4.57 | 0.57 | 2 300 | 20 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
Mk2 to 1.25m Adapter | Small, Mk2 | 550 (366.4) |
2.29 | 0.29 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 180 | 220 | |
Mk2 to 1.25m Adapter Long | Small, Mk2 | 1 050 (682.8) |
4.57 | 0.57 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
Mk2 Bicoupler | Small, Mk2 x 2 | 860 (676.4) |
2.29 | 0.29 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 180 | 220 | |
2.5m to Mk2 Adapter | Large, Mk2 | 800 (432.8) |
4.57 | 0.57 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 360 | 440 | |
Mk3 to Mk2 Adapter | Mk2, Mk3 | 2 200 (1 282.0) |
11.43 | 1.43 | 2 600 | 50 | 50 | 900 | 1 100 | |
Mk3 to 2.5m Adapter | Large, Mk3 | 2 500 (1 353.0) |
14.29 | 1.79 | 2 600 | 50 | 50 | 1 125 | 1 375 | |
Mk3 to 2.5m Adapter Slanted | Large, Mk3 | 2 500 (1 353.0) |
14.29 | 1.79 | 2 600 | 50 | 50 | 1 125 | 1 375 | |
Mk3 to 3.75m Adapter | Extra large, Mk3 | 2 500 (1 353.0) |
14.29 | 1.79 | 2 600 | 50 | 50 | 1 125 | 1 375 | |
Kerbodyne ADTP-2-3 | Large, Extra large | 1 623 (246.0) |
16.88 | 1.88 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 1 350 | 1 650 |
RCS thrusters
RCS thrusters make up the Reaction Control System designed primarily for translation maneuvers, especially useful during docking. They cannot be throttled and are controlled with a separate set of keys from the pitch-yaw-roll keys. They use only monopropellant fuel, except for the Vernor Engine which uses rocket fuel.
Advantages
- Monopropellant is automatically distributed throughout a craft, so neither crossfeeding or fuel lines have to be set up
- Only engines that respond to translation controls
- Provide additional thrust for SAS to stabilize a craft
Disadvantages
- Very low total thrust and thrust-to-weight ratio — too weak to escape from most celestial bodies.
- Low efficiency
- No thrust vectoring (however, the most commonly used thruster, the RV-105 RCS Thruster Block, can thrust in 4 directions)
- The user can only switch engines on or off (unless precision control is enabled with the caps lock key), while the SAS can run them on different thrust levels in between
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Mass (t) |
Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) |
Thrust (kN) |
Fuel (/s) |
Isp (s) (atm) | Isp (s) (vac) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RV-1X Variable Thruster Block | Radial mounted | 30 | 0.005 | 1 500 | 12 | 50 | 0.1 | 0.01 | 100 | 240 | |
Place Anywhere 1 Linear RCS Port | Radial mounted | 15 | 0.001 | 1 500 | 12 | 50 | 0.2 | 0.02 | 100 | 240 | |
RV-105 RCS Thruster Block | Radial mounted | 45 | 0.04 | 1 500 | 15 | 50 | 1.0 | 0.11 | 100 | 240 | |
Place-Anywhere 7 Linear RCS Port | Radial mounted | 25 | 0.02 | 2 600 | 15 | 50 | 2.0 | 0.21 | 100 | 240 | |
Vernor Engine[Note 1] | Radial mounted | 150 | 0.08 | 2 000 | 15 | 50 | 12.0 | 0.94 | 140 | 260 |
- ↑ The Vernor Engine uses a liquid fuel/oxidizer mixture.
RCS Fuel Density is 4 kg/unit | Mass (t) |
Monopropellant () | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Full | Empty | Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) | |
FL-R20 RCS Fuel Tank | Tiny | 200 (176) |
0.10 | 0.02 | 2 000 | 12 | 50 | 20 | |
FL-R120 RCS Fuel Tank | Small | 330 (186) |
0.56 | 0.08 | 2 000 | 12 | 50 | 120 | |
FL-R750 RCS Fuel Tank | Large | 1 800 (900) |
3.4 | 0.4 | 2 000 | 12 | 50 | 750 | |
Mk2 Monopropellant Tank | Mk2 | 750 (270) |
1.89 | 0.29 | 2 500 | 50 | 50 | 400 | |
Mk3 Monopropellant Tank | Mk3 | 5 040 (2 520) |
9.8 | 1.4 | 2 700 | 50 | 50 | 2 100 | |
Stratus-V Roundified Monopropellant Tank | X | 200 (176) |
0.10 | 0.02 | 2 000 | 12 | 50 | 20 | |
Stratus-V Cylindrified Monopropellant Tank | X | 250 (190) |
0.23 | 0.03 | 2 000 | 12 | 50 | 50 |
Ion engines
An ion engine uses electric charge to ionize atoms of xenon gas and accelerate them in an electrostatic or electromagnetic field to propel them as exhaust. Remarkably little xenon gas is needed, and probes equipped with just a few tanks are considered able to operate forever, or until something inevitably goes wrong. However, ion engines are very demanding on electrical generation and storage and very slow to accelerate.
In real-life, they are often not considered true “rocket” engines. But given that they require no outside material or mass to operate, for ease and simplicity they are included with rocket engines on this wiki.
Advantages
- Extremely high efficiency
- Cool blue glow
Disadvantages
- Extremely low thrust; inefficient for Hohmann transfers
- High electric consumption
- No thrust vectoring currently[outdated] available
- Xenon containers have poor mass ratio (2.27, compared to 8-9 for rocket fuel)
Hall effect thruster on Wikipedia
Xenon density is 0.1 kg/unit | Mass (t) |
Xenon () | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Part | Radial size | Cost () |
Full | Empty | Max. Temp. (K) |
Tolerance (m/s) |
Tolerance (g) | |
PB-X50R Xenon Container | Radial mounted | 2 220 (600) |
0.054 | 0.014 | 2 000 | 12 | 50 | 405 | |
PB-X150 Xenon Container | Tiny | 3 680 (800) |
0.100 | 0.024 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 720 | |
PB-X750 Xenon Container | Small | 24 300 (1 500) |
0.76 | 0.19 | 2 000 | 6 | 50 | 5 700 |
See also
- Reaction engine on Wikipedia
- Jet engine on Wikipedia
- Rocket engine on Wikipedia