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If two rocket engines are compared, what does a higher specific impulse mean?

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  1. The engine is heavier
  2. It burns more propellant for less thrust
  3. It gets more thrust from the same propellant weight flow

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References

  1. NASA Glenn, Specific Impulse www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/specimp.html Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. NASA Science, Basics of Space Flight Glossary science.nasa.gov/learn/basics-of-space-flight/glossary Checked 2026-10-10.

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