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Tripropellant rocket
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<p>A tripropellant rocket is a <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocket</a> that uses three <a href="/facts/Propellants/K88ymXRy">propellants</a>, as opposed to the more common <a href="/facts/Bipropellant_rocket/TAonrVDn">bipropellant rocket</a> or <a href="/facts/Monopropellant_rocket/P6kj4xvT">monopropellant rocket</a> designs, which use two or one propellants, respectively. Tripropellant systems can be designed to have high <a href="/facts/Specific_impulse/JKGgw2I4">specific impulse</a> and have been investigated for <a href="/facts/Single-stage-to-orbit/4qPbu35V">single-stage-to-orbit</a> designs. While tripropellant engines have been tested by <a href="/facts/Rocketdyne/3sGkwgd8">Rocketdyne</a> and <a href="/facts/NPO_Energomash/v936K2w7">NPO Energomash</a>, no tripropellant rocket has been flown. </p><p>There are two different kinds of tripropellant rockets. One is a <a href="/facts/Rocket_engine/XT5gaFAb">rocket engine</a> which mixes three separate streams of propellants, burning all three propellants simultaneously. The other kind of tripropellant rocket is one that uses one <a href="/facts/Oxidizer/1FQzB8pQ">oxidizer</a> but two <a href="/facts/Fuel/H8DIRL1j">fuels</a>, burning the two fuels in sequence during the flight. </p>