David.Smith@CMU-10A@sri-unix (05/14/82)
From: David.Smith at CMU-10A (C410DS30) I have read a couple of times (AW&ST, not recently) that the SSMEs develop a chamber pressure of 300 bar (atmospheres). I have also read a couple of times (FLIGHT International) that the Ariane's first stage engines develop about 55 bar. Is such a difference credible? I would expect exhaust velocity and specific impulse to be directly related to the chamber pressure. Such a difference in specific impulse seems hard to swallow.