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From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Some interesting SSME specifications.
Message-ID: <1990Oct27.220040.3350@zoo.toronto.edu>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <3382@orbit.cts.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 90 22:00:40 GMT

In article <3382@orbit.cts.com> schaper@pnet51.orb.mn.org (S Schaper) writes:
>So, what would the velocity vector be after four hours of 100% thrust on the
>SSME's?

It would be whatever it was when the first one exploded, which would be
long before four hours.

The world's most durable rocket motor I know of, the RL-10, is rated to
fire for somewhat over one hour without maintenance.  This is a design
nearly 30 years old, with vast flight experience and no particular attempt
to push technology.  The SSME is nowhere near as dependable.

This sets aside the question of where you're going to find four hours of
fuel...
-- 
The type syntax for C is essentially   | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
unparsable.             --Rob Pike     |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu   utzoo!henry