[Spaceships] Ram-Rockets and Air-Rams

[SCAR]

Originally Posted by Diomedes

That could be problematic for engines with the high-thrust and water remass options, which I can't see making a difference to the ram-rocket.

I'd assumed that the use of Water instead of Hydrogen didn't change the engine itself, just the fuel use. High-Thrust is a different matter.
If it seems wrong, then just use the base stats for the engine in air-ram mode, and ignore any water or high thrust options.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by SCAR

I'd assumed that the use of Water instead of Hydrogen didn't change the engine itself, just the fuel use. High-Thrust is a different matter.
If it seems wrong, then just use the base stats for the engine in air-ram mode, and ignore any water or high thrust options.

That's probably the best option for the water option, high thrust is definitely an engine reconfiguration and probably should apply to the air ram too.

Realistically I suppose you should recompute the engine performance using whatever the composition of the air is as reaction mass, which for most atmospheres will give you a thrust increase just like going to water reaction mass. That would also increase the reaction mass use, but you don't care about that in an air ram. Except that the additional hardware needed to deliver it will depend on it, and hence the atmospheric composition, and how big a compressor pump you need will vary with atmospheric pressure. And of course it lowers you exhaust velocity, which since you are now operating with a fuel that's not moving with your vehicle matters has become a speed limit. And... You could make this quite a complex engineering challenge if you really wanted, but why?