efficiency

The following headline in a local newspaper today: has me wondering: To what extent is efficiency taken into account in the design and operation of space rockets, by which I generally mean space shuttles?

Hello everybody, Here's something I've been wondering for a while. I understand the human is a great but imperfect machine. Although it is good at extracting energy from food, it isn't perfectly efficient. (disclaimer: what follows is what I've heard, I can't vouch for the veracity of...