rocket propellants and their characteristics

Characteristic velocity - Characteristic velocity or c* is a measure of the combustion performance of a rocket engine independent of nozzle performance, and is used to compare different propellants and propulsion systems. c* = p1 * At / m-dot Source: Rocket Propulsion Elements, 7th Edition by George P. Sutton, Oscar Biblarz..

Hypergolic propellant - Hypergolic propellant is when rocket propellant s used in a rocket engine spontaneously ignite when they come into contact. The two propellants are usually termed the 'fuel' and the 'oxidizer'. Although hypergolic propellants tend to be difficult to handle because of their extreme toxicity..

Rocket propellant - Rocket propellant is mass that is stored, usually in some form of propellant tank, prior to being used as the propulsive mass that is ejected from a rocket engine in the form of a fluid jet to produce thrust. A fuel propellant is often burned with an oxidizer propellant to produce large volumes..

Rocket propellant - Rocket propellant is mass that is stored in some form of propellant tank, prior to being used as the propulsive mass that is ejected from a rocket engine in the form of a fluid jet to produce thrust. A fuel propellant is often burned with an oxidizer propellant to produce large volumes..

New Aluminum-Water Rocket Propellant Promising For Future Space Missio.. - ScienceDaily (Oct. 8, 2009) — Researchers are developing a new type of rocket propellant made of a frozen mixture of water and 'nanoscale aluminum' powder that is more environmentally friendly than conventional propellants and could be manufactured on the moon, Mars and other water-bearing bodies. See Also: Space & Time Space Probes Space Exploration Space Station Matter & Energy Alternative Fuels Fuel Cells Fossil Fuels Reference Propellant Solid-fuel rocket Hybrid rocket Rocket engine The aluminum-ice, or ALICE, propellant might be used to launch rockets into orbit and for long-distance space missions and also to generate hydrogen for fuel cells, said Steven Son, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University. Purdue is working with NASA, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Pennsylvania State University to develop ALICE, which was used earlier this year to launch a 9-foot-tall rocket. The vehicle reached an altitude of 1,300 feet over Purdue's Sch....

Rocket Science -- Fluorine Enhances Boron Combustion In Energetic Prop.. - ScienceDaily (Feb. 14, 2000) — CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Recent shock-tube experiments at the University of Illinois have shown that propellants containing fluorine can significantly enhance the combustion of energetic boron particles. See also: Matter & Energy Physics Nature of Water Materials Science Chemistry Thermodynamics Energy Technology Reference Propellant Combustion Nitrogen oxide Boron 'The number one performance factor for any rocket is the amount of energy obtained per pound of propellant,' said Herman Krier, the Richard W. Kritzer Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the U. of I. 'The more energetic a material is, the less propellant a rocket must carry -- which means it can carry more payload.' Liquid fuels and oxidizers provide more energy per pound than solid propellants, but liquids must be cryogenically cooled, adding to their cost and making them difficult to store. Solid propellants are cheaper to make, and can be stored safely for years -- even under h....

Hybrid rocket - A hybrid rocket propulsion system comprises propellants of two different states of matter, the most common configuration being a rocket engine composed of a solid propellant lining a combustion chamber into which a liquid or gaseous propellant is injected so as to undergo a strong exothermic reaction to produce hot gas that is emitted through a De Laval nozzle for propulsive purposes. See also: Space & Time Space Probes Astrophysics Astronomy These systems are superior to solid propulsion systems in the respects of safety, throttling, restartability, and environmental cleanliness. Hybrid systems are slightly more complex than solids, but the reduction of safety, storage and transport issues may be an offsetting factor.. For more information about the topic Hybrid rocket, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles: Rocket engine — A rocket engine is a reaction engine that can be used for spacecraft propulsion as well as terrestrial uses, such as miss....

Propellant - A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. See also: Matter & Energy Fossil Fuels Nature of Water Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry Alternative Fuels Petroleum This may or may not involve a chemical reaction. It may be a gas, liquid, plasma, or, before the chemical reaction, a solid. Common chemical propellants consist of a fuel, like gasoline, jet fuel and rocket fuel, and an oxidizer. In aerosol spray cans, the propellant is simply a pressurized vapour in equilibrium with its liquid. As some gas escapes to expel the payload, more liquid evaporates, maintaining an even pressure.. For more information about the topic Propellant, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles: Projectile — A projectile is any object sent through space by the application of a force. In a general sense, even a football or baseball may be considered a ...  > read more Rocket — The traditional definition of a rocket is a vehicle, mi....

  Rocket launching - Brookdale Community College Math Club 09 Spring   Rocket propelled by a C-11 motor. Location: Brookdale Community College, New Jersey

  Hydrogen combustion propelled bottle rocket   I used about 2000 volts DC for plasma electrolysis of water. Rather than allowing the hydrogen and oxygen gas produced to escape, I let it them build up in the bottle. When the gasses built up to the point where they contacted the plasma at the electrodes the gasses ignited, propelling the bottle like a rocket.

Question : I would guess twice the size of a rocket needed to get out of earth orbit and how will they get it up there for the return trip from mars?

Answer : Mars has LESS gravity than Earth so a much smaller rocket could be used. Using the rocket equation and the escape velocity for Mars and Earth I calculate a rocket 4 or 5 times smaller than needed to escape from Earth would escape from Mars. The rocket equation is logarithmic, so it takes MUCH more that twice the propellant to get twice the speed. Earth has about twice the escape velocity as Mars and requires 4 or 5 times the propellant to launch the same payload as compared to Mars. You need a 5 times bigger rocket to carry 5 times as much propellant. Bigger actually, because the bigger rocket weighs more and has to carry its own extra weight too.

Question : I want to make solid rocket propellant with ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, what ratio shoud I use for ideal thrust that will not blow the nozzle, also are there any other chemicals I should add to the mixture?

Answer : If I were you I would not even think about doing this. You can lose eyesight, fingers, hearing, etc. Stick to commercially made rocket motors.

Question : & does anyone have a website to explain too. I need to do research on that.

Answer : Rockets are propelled upwards by the rapid and voluminous expulsion of gases from its engine. 'For every action, there is an equal an opposite reaction.' The expulsion of gas is the action. The reaction is the thrust that drives the rocket upwards. In the space shuttle, there are two types of engines. Within the SS is an engine that burns hydrogen to form water that is forced out the engine. Two solid rocket boosters are strapped to each side of the external tank. These rockets burn a solid propellent resulting in gases exiting the SRB. Both engines combine to give the SS enough thrust to go into earth orbit.