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> they can keep cool using the prop

They stay hot after shutdown and you'll still need to cool them to avoid damage. If you use your propellant/coolant for that, the ISP will drop further.



You plan for that in your burn, essentially doing a very low-powered long tail in it. Yes, doing this will slightly reduce Isp, but assuming you can alter the size of the throat on your bell, this effect is just single-digit seconds on the entire burn, compared to the "hundreds of tons of radiators" the GP referred to.


A variable geometry nozzle would help a lot here, by keeping a lower volume of propellant to still be ejected at a high speed. May be a good idea after all.




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