Efficiency losses in angled rockets

Mike Miller wrote:
Gemini seems to have mounted its translational thrusters on the sides
of its service modules, since the stern of the service module doesn't
seem to have engines:

http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/g/gemini6i.jpg

Was thrust wasted by angling the rockets along the sides of that
tapered service module?

You only lose a very few percent until the side angle becomes significant.
At 25 degrees off axis, the thrust is still 90%.
At 8 degrees, it's over 99%.

Plus, the engines bell can be slightly tilted in the body of the craft.

--
http://inquisitor.i.am/ | | Ian Stirling.
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My inner child can beat up your inner child. - Alex Greenbank

In article ,
Ian Stirling wrote:
Gemini seems to have mounted its translational thrusters on the sides
of its service modules, since the stern of the service module doesn't
seem to have engines...
http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/g/gemini6i.jpg
Was thrust wasted by angling the rockets along the sides...?

You only lose a very few percent until the side angle becomes significant.

Besides, if you look very carefully, just inside the outer rim of the
adapter, at about the 11 o'clock and 5 o'clock positions in that photo,
you will find that there *are* rear-facing thrusters on the stern.

The *forward*-facing thrusters were on the adapter side, and were (I
think) angled somewhat, since the taper of the adapter was too shallow for
them to conveniently face directly forward.
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