# Michio Kaku's steam powered rocket

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 14, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979 "2016-03-14T16:07:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979/21 "2016-03-15T11:57:30Z")

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> [@Grey](#):
>
> True but you still have to deal with the various dynamic forces on a thin tin can _as well as_ tons on water moving about. Not a lot of fun.

Q: How is this different versus the propellant(s) in any liquid-fueled conventional rocket in use today?

A: Not at all. Propellant sloshing is part & parcel of all liquid fueled / liquid oxidizer rocket systems. It’s a solved problem. Next.

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**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979/22 "2016-03-15T14:04:26Z")

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Good point.

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979/23 "2016-03-15T14:05:59Z")

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This is another reason why using a solid ablation material – plasic or ice – is preferable. No sloshing. No pumping needed.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979/24 "2016-03-15T14:16:50Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> We also worked a bit on designing a sundial with digital read-out.

[They exist, and you can 3d print one](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1068443).

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**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979/25 "2016-03-15T15:27:19Z")

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> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> Furthermore, your reaction mass doesn’t have to be highly volatile, explosive, and often frighteningly hazardous, like many rocket fuels\*.

It also doesn’t have to be at cryogenic temperatures, as an H2/O2 rocket would be, which simplifies your entire fuel handling process.

Even the versions that use ice rather than liquid water probably wouldn’t have to be that cold.

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