[net.space] rating rockes in horsepower

David.Smith@CMU-10A@sri-unix (05/14/82)

From: David.Smith at CMU-10A (C410DS30)
Rating rockets in horsepower is mainly useful for producing impressive
numbers.  The horsepower equivalent of a pound of thrust is directly
proportional to the velocity.  When the SSMEs are firing on the pad with
the holddowns on, the SSMEs produce zero horsepower.  But 3 x 430,000
pounds applied at 17,000 mph comes to 58,480,000 horsepower.