mass-ratio

How can I get a decent mass-ratio with a step rocket?

The Past Through Tomorrow Heinlein, Robert A. 1967

You would still have a terrible mass-ratio because of the shielding and I'm betting you couldn't convert one percent into thrust.

The Past Through Tomorrow Heinlein, Robert A. 1967

How can I get a decent mass-ratio with a step rocket?

The Man Who Sold The Moon Heinlein, Robert A. 1953

Auxiliary tanks for single-H were fitted around the Stone's middle, giving her a fat and sloppy appearance, but greatly improving her mass-ratio for the ordeal.

The Rolling Stones Heinlein, Robert A. 1952

With contragravity, of course, terms like "escape-velocity" and "mass-ratio" were of purely antiquarian interest.

Uller Uprising Piper, H. Beam 1952

Suppose we make it a chemical fuel and a moon rocket and assume a mass-ratio of twenfy to one.

Rocket Ship Galileo Heinlein, Robert A. 1947

If you had a decent way to use atomic power, you might be able to hold your mass-ratio down to, let's say, one-to-one.

Rocket Ship Galileo Heinlein, Robert A. 1947

"It enables you to omit the first step-rocket stage, which is bigger than all the others put together and is terribly inefficient, as it has such a poor mass-ratio.

The Past Through Tomorrow Heinlein, Robert A. 1967

"It enables you to omit the first step-rocket stage, which is bigger than all the others put together and is terribly inefficient, as it has such a poor mass-ratio.

The Man Who Sold The Moon Heinlein, Robert A. 1953