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Whilst cobbling together an answer for this question, I found myself thinking about the effects of hot rocket exhaust on a rocket launching from a confined space. I assumed it would be generally considered to be a Bad Thing.

So I found myself watching this video of a Minuteman launch, and it looks to me like hot exhaust is shooting straight up the silo and the rocket is launching through it... there seems to be a good couple of seconds where it would be toasted, and I see no indication of exhaust being vented anywhere else. I check another video (which starts with a Titan II launch with obvious venting away from the rocket, which I had assumed to be essential and standard on silos) and I can see a moment where a Minuteman, clear of the silo, is apparently wreathed in flames.

Minuteman silo launchAnother minuteman launch

Am I interpreting this correctly? Was the Minuteman made specially flame retardant, or am I a) overestimating the hazards of rocket exhaust and b) underestimating the toughness of a solid-fuelled ICBM?

Starfish Prime
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1 Answers1

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Am I interpreting this correctly?

Yes

Was the Minuteman made specially flame retardant?

No. 1) The hottest part of the exhaust is below the rocket. 2) Metal (Probably Al or an Al alloy) is fairly flame resistant. The flame may be hot enough to burn through eventually, but the metal is only subjected to the flame for a few seconds.

ICBMs have been repurposed as satellite launch vehicles, and they look basically the same.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman#Satellite_launching_role

Note that the Russians have used a different launch method; compressed air ejects the rocket from the ground before the rocket ignites. An added complication, but has the advantage of being able to quickly reload.

Mattman944
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