![]() As the nuclei decay, they also release more neutrons which go on to fissure more atoms – producing a chain reaction. This is the process of nuclear fission, and it can release an enormous amount of energy. Some atomic nuclei are unstable and can be split into several smaller nuclei when bombarded with neutrons. These determine the mass of an element – the more protons and neutrons, the heavier it is. The nucleus of an atom consists of sub-atomic particles called protons and neutrons. ![]() The engines are much more fuel efficient and can generate a much higher thrust-to-weight ratio than traditional designs. Such designs were tested by the Russians in the 1960s and the US government in the 2000s, but as yet none has flown in space. This vehicle uses a “full-flow staged combustion (FFSC) engine”, the Raptor, which burns methane for fuel and oxygen for oxidiser. Recently, private company SpaceX has been conducting test flights of their Starship launcher prototype. ![]() There are many other variables which ultimately also determine the efficiency of a rocket engine, and scientists and engineers are always looking to get more thrust and fuel efficiency out of a given design. The chemical reaction requires a fuel, such as liquid hydrogen or powdered aluminium, and an oxidiser (an agent that produces chemical reactions) such as oxygen. The engine nozzle provides the only outlet for this gas which consequently expands out of it, providing thrust. In both cases, a chemical reaction is employed to produce a very hot, highly pressurised gas inside a combustion chamber.
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