Can Hydrogen Peroxide Really Be Used as Rocket Fuel?
Yes, hydrogen peroxide can be used as rocket fuel, and in fact has been the propellant of choice for the Russian space program for decades. This doesn’t mean, however, that the key to your own private rocket company is currently sitting in your medicine cabinet. The form of hydrogen peroxide used for rocket fuel is at least a 90% concentration, whereas the disinfectant in your medicine cabinet has been diluted to around 3%. It’s still powerful enough to kill germs, but not nearly strong enough to propel a rocket into space. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is remarkably stable, considering how much potential power it contains. While medicinal grade hydrogen peroxide is as close as the nearest retail drugstore, rocket-grade hydrogen peroxide can be more difficult to obtain. It is legal to purchase quantities of concentrated hydrogen peroxide, but it must be stored inside vented aluminum alloy canisters in properly shaded areas, much like gasoline or kerosene. Hydrogen peroxide is not flam