LIQUID ROCKET PROPELLANTS, HAS ANYBODY SEEN PLANET X?
Liquid propellants are the “professional” propellants, or “what the Germans used”. Of the many attractive properties of liquid propellants is the fact that the fuel and oxidizer are separated until mixed in the combustion chamber. Liquid propellants also have the advantage of higher ISPs than solids. On the other hand, many of the properties of liquid propellants make them difficult to handle. The most popular combinations are; * LOX (Liquid oxygen) / RP1 – Actually any hydrocarbon will do from diesel to methane to alcohol. Alcohol was used by the Germans because it was easily fermented, and with 25% water added kept their combustion chambers from melting. The original idea which led to RP1 was to use military jet fuel for rockets, because the military had tons of the stuff, unfortunately jet fuel turned out to be too unrefined for delicate rocket engines. The Redstone was America’s version of the V2, using alcohol. The Atlas, the Thor, the Titan I, and the Saturn boosters used LOX / R
Related Questions
- Ive seen mention of all kinds of rocket motor types and sizes. Could you give a brief history and summary of the main marketing names for model rocket motors?
- The SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) cannot be shut down, does that make it less safe than using liquid rocket engines?
- What are the advantages of liquid propellants over solid propellants?
