Problems

There are two major players in the space industry: United States and Russia. American NASA focuses (focused?) on reusable shuttles which are advanced, but very expensive. Russians use cheaper space capsules. Though these technologies are very different, at this time, both of them need rocket carriers to send them into the space. These launch vehicles are the most energy inefficient step in the space flight.

Historically there are numerous problems with the rockets. Probably the main one is the rocket fuel, sometimes also called Launch Vehicle Propellant. The popular liquid fuel is the mixture of kerosene, liquid hydrogen and a bouquet of heavy metals that are used to improve temperature change stability and increase emitted energy. During the process of burning, toxic pollutions are released into the atmosphere in huge quantities. After a launch, one can witness a rocket fuel cloud floating in the sky. The effects of these toxins, though greatly reduced in the last decades, can be hazardous for people and wild animals.

During minute and a half while rocket engine is running, 4,800 tonnes of fuel are being burnt at the rate of about 55.81 tonnes per second (Ley, 146). It’s about 9/10 of the weight of the rocket. This leaves very little space for the storage.

All current rockets have very limited storage. Russian Soyuz can hold only 7 tonnes. American shuttles can lift more, but still a very little. Most of the energy is wasted for fighting the gravitational field of the Earth.