PDE, Pulse Detonation Engine
Pulse Detonation Engines, (PDE's), offer hope for finally achieving the Holy Grail of Citizens' Access to Space, CATS. PDE's are simple air-breathing jet engines offering enormous power and exhaust velocity.
- PDE's are advanced ramjets similar to the V1 Buzzbomb original jet.
- PDE's don't burn kerosene, they explode it in rapid pulsing conflagrations.
- PDE's do not carry oxidizer, they burn atmospheric oxygen, making them smaller and lighter boosters than rocket boosters.
- PDE's, being lighter and smaller, offer cheaper fly-back designs than huge dual propellant booster tanks, again cheapening space access.