Free Mission Fuel Mass Calculator

Calculate the fuel mass required for a mission: m_fuel = m_dry * (exp(dv / ve) - 1).

kg
m/s
m/s

Required Fuel Mass

8,591.41 kg

Total Launch Mass13,591.41 kg
Fuel Fraction0.632121

Required Fuel Mass vs Dry Mass (payload + structure)

Mission Fuel Mass

From the Tsiolkovsky equation, the fuel needed for a given delta-v depends exponentially on the ratio dv/ve.

Formula

m_fuel = m_dry * (exp(dv / ve) - 1)

  • *m_dry* = payload plus structural mass
  • *dv* = required velocity change
  • *ve* = exhaust velocity
  • This shows why high delta-v missions are so demanding on fuel.

    Example Calculation

    5000 kg dry mass, 3000 m/s delta-v, 3000 m/s exhaust velocity.

    1. 01m_fuel = m_dry * (exp(dv/ve) - 1)
    2. 02dv/ve = 3000/3000 = 1
    3. 03exp(1) = 2.7183
    4. 04m_fuel = 5000 * (2.7183 - 1) = 5000 * 1.7183
    5. 05m_fuel = 8591 kg

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