/sci/ - Science & Math

>>11515495
Yes, it is possible and it has been explored. An issue is that once the spacecraft drops the tanks, then it's carrying more engines than needed to accelerate (unless it's meant for space only, then wouldn't matter as much). Another issue is that the added complexity of needed to crossfeed propellant tanks sort of balances out the benefit over using a separate stage, plus it would be harder to reuse the tanks (since you would have have recover them using a separate vehicle).