February 2003
Project T.H.R.O.B.
Progress Report
  • T.ransit
  • H.ydrogen
  • R.ocket
  • O.rbiting
  • B.alloon
  • Moving from one place to another
  • The lightest Gas in the Universe
  • Driven by Reaction Propulsion
  • To Revolve around the Earth
  • By an Inflatable Container

This Web-page is to document my attempt to invent a new means of getting man into space I believe the rocket (which is the only way of getting people into space at the moment) is fundementally flawed in its approach. Multi Stage Rockets are wasteful and I believe I have a better way.

Here follows my reasoning

  1. Hydrogen is the lightest gas in the universe.
  2. Hydrogen will ignite when in contact with oxygen.
  3. Rockets are projected by the force arising from the expansion of the gases combusted from their contents.
  4. * Atmoshpere composes 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide, and trace gases.
  5. * At sea level, the air pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch (10356 kg / square meter)
  6. * Infromation obtained from LINK
  7. For every 6km increase in altitude, the pressure of the atmosphere decreases by one half LINK
This table shows us that Hydrogen is 15 times lighter than air and twice as light as Helium
Contents of vessel with
internal volume 1 m3		 Approximate mass/kg
Empty (ie evacuated)0.00
Filled with hydrogen(*)0.08
Filled with helium(*)0.17
Filled with air(*)1.20
 (*) Filled to nominal atmospheric pressure and Temerature. LINK

The Basic Premise is that a large envelope of hydrogen is let loose and rises through the atmoshere until its lift no longer exceeds its mass. At this point some of the Hydrogen is released from the base of the craft and ignites with the oxygen in the atmosphere (or oxygen taken as part of the payload) and delivers its payload into orbit.




Ionosphere



Mesosphere

Ozone-Layer

Stratosphere

Troposhere

Earth

 So the question must be asked : When will the mass of the craft exceed the thrust developed by the rising hydrogen?
The Answer to this depends of course on
  • The mass of the craft
  • The Volume of Hydrogen
  • The Temperature of the Hydrogen
As surface area increases volume increases, the ratio is squared to cubed and therefore the larger the scale of the craft the more height it will obtain before blast is required.
I would like this to be a colaborative process so please feel free to comment, make suggestions, be critical or contribute. Max Emerson

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