> > Only 3% of the Saturn 5 launch costs covered fuel (ref.: LEO on the Cheap). Launch costs have virtually nothing to do with energy costs.
> First stage dry weight:288,000 pounds (131,000 kg) and fully fueled at launch had a total weight of 5.0 million pounds (2.3 million kg)
> At current costs of production, 50 kw of electricity/kg H2 at 8 cents/kw $4/kg and of liquid O2 at about 4 cents/kg the total costs of fuel would be roughly $2,080,000.
http://www.dunnspace.com/leo_on_the_cheap.htm
Is there a biofuel which could substitute for the kerosene?
It would be nice to pull in the farm states (and their
elected representatives!) as big-time supporters of Space.
Wouldn't have the unintended consequence of driving up food prices ala corn based ethanol?
Alexander DeClama
It would be nice to pull in the farm states (and their
elected representatives! ) as big-time supporters of Space.
> Is there a biofuel which could substitute for the kerosene?
"Company Flies Biofuel Rocket (Video) | Universe TodayJul 24, 2009 ... Company Flies Biofuel Rocket (Video) | Universe Today ... than the performance of a similar rocket using RP-1 refined kerosene rocket fuel. ..."
Thanks for the link. So it is being done. I could see
stimulus money going to this. Play up the patriotism angle:
"Why should America have to depend on the Middle East for
rocket fuel blah blah blah..."
again, too often farms overproduce, can't see all of what
they produce, and have to be bailed out by the government
(sometimes paid to destroy crops) or owners face the very
real possibility of losing their farms; losing their farms
because they did their job too well.
Of course, the whole issue of price brings up a very
important question: how much does RP-1 cost, and how much
this biofuel?
Well I guess I can look that up too.