Rocket Engines - Revision history

2001:67C:2628:647:31:2404:0:344 at 01:23, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T01:23:32Z

2001:67C:2628:647:31:2404:0:344 at 01:18, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T01:18:12Z

Rethkir: Updated values based on in-game wiki and testing

2026-01-18T01:08:42Z

Updated values based on in-game wiki and testing

Thoth: link to new Gas condensation article

2025-12-10T19:13:11Z

link to new Gas condensation article

185.203.246.25 at 18:13, 26 February 2025

2025-02-26T18:13:29Z

185.203.246.70: cleanup links

2024-08-26T16:22:36Z

cleanup links

185.203.246.70: Added engines info

2024-08-26T01:49:10Z

Added engines info

Taparu: Added relevant math for thrust and weight.

2024-01-27T03:19:09Z

Added relevant math for thrust and weight.

Taparu: fix link

2024-01-27T03:10:06Z

fix link

Smodd: Initial creation of page

2024-01-18T19:54:15Z

Initial creation of page

New page

[[Category:Rocketry]]
<div style="width:auto; overflow:auto;">
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! Name
! Base Power Usage
! Rocket Mass Contribution
! Max Thrust
! Efficiency
! Exhaust Velocity
|-

! [[Pressure_Fed_Liquid_Engine|Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]
| 20W
| 500kg
| 29,2kN
| 160%
| 6,18km/s (Isp: 631s)
|-

! [[Pressure_Fed_Gas_Engine|Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]
| 10W
| 500kg
| 40,3kN
| 96%
| 3,86km/s (Isp: 394s)
|-

! [[Pumped_Gas_Engine|Pumped Gas Engine]]
| 200W
| 500kg
| 16,2kN
| 100%
| 4,02km/s (Isp: 411s)
|-

! [[Pumped_Liquid_Engine|Pumped Liquid Engine]]
| 200W
| 500kg
| 17,6kN
| 140%
| 5,47km/s (Isp: 559s)
|-

! colspan="6" | Update 0.2.4726.21691 - 18/01/2024 [[Rocket_Engines]]
|}
</div>

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
      | 500
      | 17.90
-     | 18.74<ref name="PLE-CE">Cooling fuel lower than barely condensing temperatures gives minor upside on engine thrust, <1% increase</ref>
+     | 18.74<ref name="PLE-CE">Cooling fuel lower than barely condensing temperatures gives minor upside on engine thrust, <1% increase.</ref>
      | 31.25<ref name="PLE-CE"/>
      | 15.00
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Heavy Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Heavy Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]<ref name="HPFE-TraderItem">In normal playthrough, could only be aquired via trade with 'Cosmic Curiosities' [[trader]] for 1000 credits.</ref></b>
      | 10
      | 750
@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Heavy Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Heavy Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]<ref name="HPFE-TraderItem"/></b>
      | 20
      | 750

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
    {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
      ! rowspan=2 | Name
-     ! rowspan=2 | Base Power Usage
+     ! rowspan=2 | Power Usage, W
-     ! rowspan=2 | Rocket Mass Contribution
+     ! rowspan=2 | Rocket Mass Contribution, kg
-     ! rowspan=2 | Max Thrust
+     ! rowspan=2 | Formal Max Thrust, kN
-     ! colspan=2 | Real Max Thrust
+     ! colspan=2 | Tested Max Thrust, kN
-     ! rowspan=2 | Efficiency
+    ! colspan=2 | Propellant consumption<ref>Consumption values were measured for "Tested Max Thrust", maximum efficiency.</ref>, mol/tick
-     ! rowspan=2 | Exhaust Velocity
+     ! rowspan=2 | Efficiency, %
      |-
-     ! Using O2
+     ! Using O<sub>2</sub>
-     ! Using N2O
+     ! Using N<sub>2</sub>O
      |-
      ! <b>[[Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]</b>
-     | 10W
+     | 10
-     | 500kg
+     | 500
-     | 40.3kN
+     | 40.30
-     | 59.9kN
+     | 60.32
-     | 41.9kN<ref>N2O must be much hotter to avoid condensing therefore decreasing pumping rate</ref>
+     | 41.57
-     | 96%
+    | 69.77
-     | 3.86km/s (Isp: 394s)
+    | 31.68<ref name="NitroPumpRate">N<sub>2</sub>O temperature must be above max condensing point to allow high pressures, therefore decreasing pumping rate.</ref>
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pumped Gas Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]</b>
-     | 200W
+     | 20
-     | 500kg
+     | 500
-     | 16.2kN
+     | 29.30
-     | 16.3kN
+    | 38.84
-     | 24.4kN
+    | 59.70
-     | 100%
+     | 27.23
-     | 4.02km/s (Isp: 411s)
+     | 28.16
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pumped Liquid Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Heavy Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]</b>
-     | 200W
+     | 10
-     | 500kg
+     | 750
-     | 17.9kN
+     | 62.60
-     | 18.7kN
+     | 93.87
-     | 31.3kN
+     | 64.75
-     | 140%
+     | 118.45
-     | 5.56km/s (Isp: 568s)
+     | 53.83<ref name="NitroPumpRate" />
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Heavy Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]</b>
-     | 20W
+     | 20
-     | 500kg
+     | 750
-     | 29.3kN
+     | 44.30
-     | 38kN
+     | 60.39
-     | 58.7kN
+     | 95.52
-     | 160%
+     | 47.03
-     | 6.31km/s (Isp: 644s)
+     | 49.86
      |-
-     ! colspan=8 | <i>Update 0.2.6091.26702 - 01/17/2026</i> <span class="right">[[Rocket_Engines]]</span>
+     ! colspan=11 | <i>Update 0.2.6136.26812 - 01/28/2026</i> <span class="right">[[Rocket_Engines]]</span>
    |}
 </div>

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
      | 10W
      | 500kg
-     | 40,3kN
+     | 40.3kN
-     | 61,0kN
+     | 59.9kN
-     | 41,9kN<ref>N2O must be much hotter to avoid condensing therefore decreasing pumping rate</ref>
+     | 41.9kN<ref>N2O must be much hotter to avoid condensing therefore decreasing pumping rate</ref>
      | 96%
-     | 3,86km/s (Isp: 394s)
+     | 3.86km/s (Isp: 394s)
      |-
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
      | 200W
      | 500kg
-     | 16,2kN
+     | 16.2kN
-     | 16,5kN
+     | 16.3kN
-     | 24,5kN
+     | 24.4kN
      | 100%
-     | 4,02km/s (Isp: 411s)
+     | 4.02km/s (Isp: 411s)
      |-
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
      | 200W
      | 500kg
-     | 17,6kN
+     | 17.9kN
-     | 18,7kN
+     | 18.7kN
-     | 31,3kN
+     | 31.3kN
      | 140%
-     | 5,47km/s (Isp: 559s)
+     | 5.56km/s (Isp: 568s)
      |-
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
      | 20W
      | 500kg
-     | 29,2kN
+     | 29.3kN
-     | 43,4kN - 38,1kN
+     | 38kN
-     | 74,5kN - 61,3kN
+     | 58.7kN
      | 160%
-     | 6,18km/s (Isp: 631s)
+     | 6.31km/s (Isp: 644s)
      |-
-     ! colspan=8 | <i>Update 0.2.4726.21691 - 18/01/2024</i> <span class="right">[[Rocket_Engines]]</span>
+     ! colspan=8 | <i>Update 0.2.6091.26702 - 01/17/2026</i> <span class="right">[[Rocket_Engines]]</span>
    |}
 </div>

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Rocket Engines give you their max output in kN with this you can calculate what they can reasonably carry into orbit depending on the planet or moon you are on. Force = Mass * Acceleration. Acceleration is equal to the planet's gravity, Mass is given in kg per part of the rocket, and Force is kN. If your thrust force listed below is less than the weight of the rocket in kN then you will not even take off. It is better to have a thrust much higher than the weight of the rocket or else you risk running out of fuel on launch and on landing.
-Liquid propellants bring greater efficiencies. Using Nitrous Oxide as oxidizer provides excessive thrust values. Keep in mind that N2O fuel mix is 1.9375 times heavier at same moles, or 2.15 times heavier at same volume, while thrust boost is around 1.5-1.7. Engine efficiency determines "bonus" thrust multiplier, meaning engine with higher efficiency will give more thrust consuming same amount of fuel. Thus using liquid engines is more favorable if one can cool fuel down, moreover Pressure Fed Engines consume fuel inversely proportional to its temperature. On the other hand if [[Volatiles]] and [[Oxygen]] are in excess (e.g. farm on [[Vulcan]]) is may be much easier to opt for Pressure Fed Gas Engine. It will provide ~40kN at 20°C.
+[[Gas condensation|Liquid propellants]] bring greater efficiencies. Using Nitrous Oxide as oxidizer provides excessive thrust values. Keep in mind that N2O fuel mix is 1.9375 times heavier at same moles, or 2.15 times heavier at same volume, while thrust boost is around 1.5-1.7. Engine efficiency determines "bonus" thrust multiplier, meaning engine with higher efficiency will give more thrust consuming same amount of fuel. Thus using liquid engines is more favorable if one can cool fuel down, moreover Pressure Fed Engines consume fuel inversely proportional to its temperature. On the other hand if [[Volatiles]] and [[Oxygen]] are in excess (e.g. farm on [[Vulcan]]) is may be much easier to opt for Pressure Fed Gas Engine. It will provide ~40kN at 20°C.
 <div style="width:auto; overflow:auto;">

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Rocket Engines give you their max output in kN with this you can calculate what they can reasonably carry into orbit depending on the planet or moon you are on. Force = Mass * Acceleration. Acceleration is equal to the planet's gravity, Mass is given in kg per part of the rocket, and Force is kN. If your thrust force listed below is less than the weight of the rocket in kN then you will not even take off. It is better to have a thrust much higher than the weight of the rocket or else you risk running out of fuel on launch and on landing.
-Liquid propellants bring greater efficiencies. Using Nitrous Oxide as oxidizer provides excessive thrust values. Keep in mind that N2O fuel mix is 1.9375 times heavier while thrust boost is around 1.5-1.7. Engine efficiency determines "bonus" thrust multiplier, meaning engine with higher efficiency will give more thrust consuming same amount of fuel. Thus using liquid engines is more favorable if one can cool fuel down, moreover Pressure Fed Engines consume fuel inversely proportional to its temperature. On the other hand if [[Volatiles]] and [[Oxygen]] are in excess (e.g. farm on [[Vulcan]]) is may be much easier to opt for Pressure Fed Gas Engine. It will provide ~40kN at 20°C.
+Liquid propellants bring greater efficiencies. Using Nitrous Oxide as oxidizer provides excessive thrust values. Keep in mind that N2O fuel mix is 1.9375 times heavier at same moles, or 2.15 times heavier at same volume, while thrust boost is around 1.5-1.7. Engine efficiency determines "bonus" thrust multiplier, meaning engine with higher efficiency will give more thrust consuming same amount of fuel. Thus using liquid engines is more favorable if one can cool fuel down, moreover Pressure Fed Engines consume fuel inversely proportional to its temperature. On the other hand if [[Volatiles]] and [[Oxygen]] are in excess (e.g. farm on [[Vulcan]]) is may be much easier to opt for Pressure Fed Gas Engine. It will provide ~40kN at 20°C.
 <div style="width:auto; overflow:auto;">

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pressure_Fed_Gas_Engine|Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Pressure Fed Gas Engine]]</b>
      | 10W
      | 500kg
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pumped_Gas_Rocket_Engine|Pumped Gas Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Pumped Gas Engine]]</b>
      | 200W
      | 500kg
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pumped_Liquid_Engine|Pumped Liquid Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Pumped Liquid Engine]]</b>
      | 200W
      | 500kg
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pressure_Fed_Liquid_Engine|Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Pressure Fed Liquid Engine]]</b>
      | 20W
      | 500kg

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
      |-
-     ! <b>[[Pumped_Gas_Engine|Pumped Gas Engine]]</b>
+     ! <b>[[Pumped_Gas_Rocket_Engine|Pumped Gas Engine]]</b>
      | 200W
      | 500kg