--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think about the energy that a…" description: "\"If you think about the energy that a rocket engine has to put out and all the fuel and you're sitting on top of like a bomb. And on the Space Shuttle, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/leroy-chiao-7059_complicated_if-you-think-about-the-energy-that-a-roc_1208979.jpg" --- # If you think about the energy that a rocket engine has to… ![“If you think about the energy that a rocket engine has to put out and all the fuel and you're sitting on top of like a bomb. And on the Space Shuttle, that big orange tank is filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the white cell rocket boosters on the sides are filled with solid…” quote by Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/leroy-chiao-7059_complicated_if-you-think-about-the-energy-that-a-roc_1208979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/leroy-chiao-7059_complicated_if-you-think-about-the-energy-that-a-roc_1208979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/leroy-chiao-7059_complicated_if-you-think-about-the-energy-that-a-roc_1208979.jpg) > “If you think about the energy that a rocket engine has to put out and all the fuel and you're sitting on top of like a bomb. And on the Space Shuttle, that big orange tank is filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the white cell rocket boosters on the sides are filled with solid propellant. There's a lot of energy in all those chemicals there and you've got to control it in a way so it doesn't explode. So, there's a lot of plumbing, a lot of valving, a lot of control systems, and it's a very complicated thing. So, how do you bring the price of that down?” [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rocket propulsion requires massive energy and intricate control systems; reducing cost involves simplifying design, improving materials, and streamlining operations. **In simple terms:** Space travel needs huge power and careful control; cheaper rockets need smarter engineering. Key Takeaway Innovate to cut costs. Themes technology engineering cost reduction Mood analytical optimistic Type technical inspirational When to use this quote - manufacturing - budget planning - risk assessment Key Concepts aerospace systems design project management Questions to Reflect On - What trade‑offs are acceptable in aerospace? - How can new materials lower expenses? A Different Perspective Complex safety requirements limit how much cost can be cut without compromising reliability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space shuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-shuttle/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that a methane-oxygen rocket engine could achieve a specific impulse greater than 380.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-realized-that-a-methane-oxygen-rocket-engine-could-achieve-a/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [“For the better part of seven decades, watching rockets launch from Cape Canaveral has been a major tourist attraction, a favorite activity of locals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-wright/for-the-better-part-of-seven-decades-watching-rockets-launch-from/) James D. Wright > [There was a lot of light and a lot of rumbling and vibration, especially the first minute or minute-and-a-half. And then after about two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/there-was-a-lot-of-light-and-a-lot-of-rumbling-and-vibration/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [It is not our affluence, or our plumbing, or our clogged freeways that grip the imagination of others. Rather, it is the values upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-not-our-affluence-or-our-plumbing-or-our-clogged-freeways-that/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [You know what I hate? The outdoors. I mean, generally. I don't like outside. I'm an inside person. I'm all about refrigeration and indoor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-know-what-i-hate-the-outdoors-i-mean-generally-i-don-t-like/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [When we attempt to find meaning in the pursuit of pleasure, the commitment to a job, or through plumbing intellectual depths, we all eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/when-we-attempt-to-find-meaning-in-the-pursuit-of-pleasure-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I didn't have indoor plumbing. I'd go to school dirty. I didn't have lunches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-didn-t-have-indoor-plumbing-i-d-go-to-school-dirty-i-didn-t-have/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I'm married. I have three children. I have a mortgage to pay. The plumbing breaks and the yard needs trimming. However, what my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-m-married-i-have-three-children-i-have-a-mortgage-to-pay-the/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [Had I been more responsible I might have made something of myself as a junk bond trader, long-haul trucker or perhaps a plumbing contractor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/had-i-been-more-responsible-i-might-have-made-something-of-myself-as/) [Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/) > [Liberals hate America, they hate flag-wavers, they hate abortion opponents, they hate all religions except Islam, post 9/11. Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/liberals-hate-america-they-hate-flag-wavers-they-hate-abortion/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I supported myself by delivering the 'Wall Street Journal' and doing odd jobs. I love plumbing and carpentry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-supported-myself-by-delivering-the-wall-street-journal-and-doing/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [“And what is the state but a servant and a convenience for a large number of people, just like the electric light and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/and-what-is-the-state-but-a-servant-and-a-convenience-for-a-large/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [One of the things I like about my job is that it draws on the entire person: not just your knowledge of grammar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-norris/one-of-the-things-i-like-about-my-job-is-that-it-draws-on-the-entire/) [Mary Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-norris/) > [Plumbing is usually boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/plumbing-is-usually-boring/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [What really matters is getting new people in. The constitutional changes matter, but the thing that the party mustn't do is turn in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/what-really-matters-is-getting-new-people-in-the-constitutional/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) ## More by Leroy Chiao > [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I'm skeptical of claims that we've been visited by aliens from another planet or other dimension, but I don't rule it out 100 percent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-m-skeptical-of-claims-that-we-ve-been-visited-by-aliens-from/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [On the mission I brought a flag from China, I brought the stone sculpture from Hong Kong, and I brought a scroll from Taiwan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/on-the-mission-i-brought-a-flag-from-china-i-brought-the-stone/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [One day, people will be able to buy tickets to visit space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/one-day-people-will-be-able-to-buy-tickets-to-visit-space/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I think it's good to have competition. Now we have a third country that can launch astronauts, so it's good for all of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-think-it-s-good-to-have-competition-now-we-have-a-third-country/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I remember getting advice like, "Oh, do what interests you. Don't worry about tomorrow, live for today," kind of thing. And to a degree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-remember-getting-advice-like-oh-do-what-interests-you-don-t-worry/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [When Russians were having troubles, the Space Shuttle supported the Space Station Mir bringing up much needed supplies and replacements, critical spares, really. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/when-russians-were-having-troubles-the-space-shuttle-supported-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-how-to-do-in-order-to-keep/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [We were trying to do as much science as we could because that was the main purpose of the international space station. But without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/we-were-trying-to-do-as-much-science-as-we-could-because-that-was-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The space station mission was kind of the culmination of all of my experience of being a NASA Astronaut, so it had brought all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-space-station-mission-was-kind-of-the-culmination-of-all-of-my/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The expense of getting into space is the rocket launch, the rocket itself. Rocket's right now, commercial rockets cost probably somewhere between $50, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-expense-of-getting-into-space-is-the-rocket-launch-the-rocket/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [If we're not able to launch our own people and operate our own spacecraft anymore then, you know, space - whether it should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-we-re-not-able-to-launch-our-own-people-and-operate-our-own/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [When I was at NASA, I had a house on a small private airstrip that we shared between the flying community. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/when-i-was-at-nasa-i-had-a-house-on-a-small-private-airstrip-that-we/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Donald Trump's administration is floating a proposal to return to the moon - and to shut down the International Space Station to help pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/donald-trump-s-administration-is-floating-a-proposal-to-return-to-the/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Because we didn't cooperate with China, we gave them motivation to develop their own capability. You know, they developed a very capable rocket system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/because-we-didn-t-cooperate-with-china-we-gave-them-motivation-to/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) [Explore all 95 Leroy Chiao quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) ## More Complicated quotes > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) Marlin > [“Why the hell did he have to be so complicated? One minute he was charming, the next he withdrew behind his internal walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-davis/why-the-hell-did-he-have-to-be-so-complicated-one-minute-he-was/) [Lia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-davis/) > [Life is more complicated than we think, yet far simpler than anyone dares to imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/life-is-more-complicated-than-we-think-yet-far-simpler-than-anyone/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [“Just because it's complicated, just because you think you can't ever know everything about another person, it doesn't mean you can't try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/just-because-it-s-complicated-just-because-you-think-you-can-t-ever/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Your Starbucks order is directly proportional to how complicated your personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/your-starbucks-order-is-directly-proportional-to-how-complicated-your/) [Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ The parts of the \[Civil Right\] Movement we recognize so well now were not born from a single decision, but were a complicated and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-aydin/the-parts-of-the-civil-right-movement-we-recognize-so-well-now-were/) [Andrew Aydin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-aydin/) > [Two people could build an outhouse in four hours. They're not complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-maxwell/two-people-could-build-an-outhouse-in-four-hours-they-re-not/) [Robert Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-maxwell/) Browse all 3,190 Complicated quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you think about the energy that a rocket engine has to put out and all the fuel and you're sitting on top of like a bomb. And on the Space Shuttle, that big orange tank is filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the white cell rocket boosters on the sides are filled with solid propellant. There's a lot of energy in all those chemicals there and you've got to control it in a way so it doesn't explode. So, there's a lot of plumbing, a lot of valving, a lot of control systems, and it's a very complicated thing. 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