(Arthur Hansen) wrote in message
om...
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviatio...3272-1,00.html

Is pulse detonation applicable for rocket technology? Considering
"loud" isn't really that big an issue for a rocket. And considering
rockets carry their own fuel and oxidizer, it would seem that pulse
detonation technology would be something that would be easier to use
and develop instead of trying to make into an advance jet engine
first

Arthur Hansen

P.S. Thanks, Slashdot.org for noticing this neat article!

It has been proposed. But the big gain with PDE is not that big a gain
when compared to a rockets. The driving force on PDE research is for
air-breathers were fuel economy makes you lots of money. Rocket
engines however are in fact very close the theoretical thermodynamic
limits of efficiency. The gains, in any, are outweighed by the
unsteady nature of PDE.