[kulahan]

There’s nothing logical about trying to make non-oxidizing metal that can handle thousands of degrees of temperature, hundreds of bars of pressure, and a nearly pure-oxygen environment? The US essentially made fun of the Soviets for even trying. If you think it’s logical, you don’t understand the tech at all. It’s a borderline miracle, let alone simply “logical”.

Literal rocket scientists spent decades and careers saying it was a waste of time, and random people with zero expertise try to downplay it. I’ll never understand being THIS cocky is a subject one has clearly never touched.

[avmich]

Soviets were world leaders in liquid fuel rocket engines. They used oxygen-rich preburners in e.g very successful line of engines starting with RD-170. It was possible decades ago. And no downplaying.

[kulahan]

It doesn't have to be modern to be a miracle. The steam engine is one, too! I think this is still true of FFCS rockets, but maybe we're just wondering at different things in this world :)