A human-powered rocket is a steam powered-rocket that uses steam instead of rocket fuel for thrust,the human-powered element comes from the fact that the heat to produce the steam comes from human beings. Let me explain how it would work. The lower part of the rocket is basically a large water tank, and boiler. The water tank is filled with several thousand gallons of water. The entire rocket, with its water tank,boiler,and other equipment may be more than 200 feet high, roughly as high as a twenty-story building. A re-entry vehicle sits on top of the rocket. This re-entry vehicle is approximately 100 feet high,and has wings like a space shuttle. The bottom of the re-entry vehicle is covered with heat-resistant ceramic tiles, like the space shuttle, so it resembles the space shuttle.
Although the re-entry vehicle looks like a space shuttle on the outside,it would look very different on the inside. There are seats for 150 astronauts inside the re-entry vehicle. There is a set of pedals on the floor in front of each seat. When the astronaut sits in his seat, he puts his feet on the pedals,and pedals as if he were pedaling a bicycle. The pedals are connected to an electrical generator that is located under the floor of the crew compartment. When an astronaut pedals, the energy produced by his leg muscles is converted into electricity. The electricity produced by all the astronauts, collectively goes through wires to the water tank. The electricity is then used to heat the water in the water tank, so the water will be converted into steam.
Since the water tank is extremely large and contains thousands of gallons of water,it cannot be converted into steam quickly. The astronauts inside the re-entry vehicle have to pedal for three days until they build up enough steam for the rocket to take off. To do this, they are split into two groups. One group is called group A,the other group is called group B. Group A pedals for twelve hours,while group B sleeps for twelve hours,then they trade places,so group A sleeps for twelve hours, while group B pedals for twelve hours. They do this for approximately three days until the thousand of gallons of water in the water tank has been turned into steam. Then, the pilot of the vehicle tells the 150 astronauts that they must all pedal at the same time. When they all pedal at the same time, the pilot pushes a button that causes the steam exhaust valve at the bottom of the rocket to be opened. when the valve is opened, the steam can escape through the rocket’s steam exhaust nozzle. The thrust of the high-pressure steam causes the rocket to rise upwards into the sky. All 150 of the astronauts on board continue to pedal, so that the steam pressure will be increased.
Some lower stages of the rocket may be jettisoned,to save weight. The actual procedure for doing this depends on the actual design of the rocket. The entire first stage may jettisoned,and then the second stage will be activated. When the second stage is activated, the steam exhaust from the second stage will propel the rocket to a higher altitude. In some rockets, the main water-supply tank will not be jettisoned until later, but smaller boilers and steam expansion chambers will be jettisoned, to save weight. Eventually, all the water tank and boilers would be jettisoned, and the rocket would go into orbit. The astronauts inside would experience weightlessness. At this point, they can stop pedaling, and they can get out of their seats and float freely inside the crew compartment.
They may orbit the Earth several times,and they may take photographs during this period. The main purpose of this type of rocket would be for space tourism,and the astronauts on board are essentially tourists who paid for a ticket,to ride in the rocket. The human-powered rocket may also be used to put satellites into orbit. Finally it is time to begin the descent phase of the flight. The pilot tells all the people on board to get into their seats,and fasten their seat belts. When the re-entry vehicle enters the Earth’s atmosphere,friction with the air causes heat to build up. The re-entry vehicle is protected from the heat by a layer of ceramic tiles on the bottom. Finally, the landing gear is extended, and the re-entry vehicle lands on an airport runway, like conventional airplane.
Human-powered rockets do not pollute the air,since they do not burn any fuel. They do not contribute to global warming. Their environmental impact would be less than any other type of rocket. Since they do not use expensive fuel,they would also cost less than any other type of rocket.
