Which propellant combination offers the highest specific impulse ($I_{sp}$)?
Answer
Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen ($ ext{LOX}/ ext{LH}_2$)
Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are the champions of performance, offering the highest specific impulse, primarily due to the extremely low molecular weight of hydrogen.
#Videos
What Do Rockets Use As Fuel? | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains...
Demonstrating Rocket Fuel Transfer in Space - YouTube
Related Questions
Does a spacecraft stop needing fuel once it leaves Earth's gravity well?What fundamental law explains how rockets generate thrust by expelling mass?What essential component does a rocket carry that many atmospheric propulsion systems rely on external air to provide?How does the vacuum of space affect the efficiency of rocket engine exhaust expansion?What is the primary definition of rocket propellant in relation to thrust generation?Which propellant combination offers the highest specific impulse ($I_{sp}$)?What significant logistical drawback accompanies the high performance of cryogenic propellants like $ ext{LH}_2$ and $ ext{LOX}$?What advantage does $ ext{RP-1}$ (kerosene) offer over $ ext{LH}_2$ for early rocket stages?What unique characteristic allows hypergolic propellants like $ ext{UDMH}$ and $ ext{N}_2 ext{O}_4$ to be suitable for reliable maneuvering systems?Why do engineers deliberately run most chemical rocket engines fuel-rich instead of stoichiometrically balanced?What is the primary long-term strategy proposed for enabling sustainable, powerful space exploration?What type of propellant is used by ion thrusters, and what is their main operational advantage?