Space Exploration Stack Exchange
Space Exploration Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [fuel]

Questions about rocket oxidizer, propellant, reactive mass, or other fuels used in spacecraft or rockets.

452 questions
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7 answers

Pre-mixing cryogenic fuels and using only one fuel tank

A methalox engine is fed from two cryogenic fuel tanks. Why can't the methane and oxygen be mixed as gases, in the desired proportions, and then chilled to a temp that liquefies both? From a single tank a single turbo pump could then feed this into…
SpaceInMyHead
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3 answers

Could I home-brew my own rocket fuel?

RP-1 is highly refined kerosene. If I bought a supply of commercial-grade kerosene, by what process could I convert it to RP-1, And, while I'm at it, do I have any good choices for non-cryogenic oxidizer to use with it, other than the…
Jerard Puckett
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16
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3 answers

Why don't rockets use propane?

Most BBQs use propane. Propane burns quite well and it is quite clean. So why hasn't anyone use it as a rocket fuel??
Dat Ha
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14
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2 answers

Where is the Lithium-Fluorine-Hydrogen tripropellant currently?

One of notes near the end of "Ignition!" included: Using lithium and fluorine alone (no hydrogen) their maximum specific impulse was 458 seconds. But when they proportioned the lithium and fluorine to burn stoichiometrically to LiF, and…
SF.
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9
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5 answers

Have launch system propellants evolved since RP1/LH2?

So I was chasing something else when this page popped into my field I'm quite sure the page isn't exhaustive. What little content is there on the page though seems to indicate the below listed propellant are what have been used majorly over the last…
Everyone
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9
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2 answers

Was metastable solid metallic hydrogen really debunked as viable future fuel?

In this thread about Kerbal Space Program 2 authors says they are building gameplay based on technologies that are potentially viable in the near, or ar future. Main topic there is metallic hydrogen. It ignited a heated discussion on that…
Mołot
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Does the pressurization of tanks prevent "liquid sloshing" during maneuvers?

I'll be the first to admit I know little to nothing about fluid dynamics, especially in a pressure vessel. I was wondering how pressurized rocket fuel tanks don't cause weight-distribution problems when they begin to tilt, or do they? This is what I…
Magic Octopus Urn
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3
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Force Constant of liquid propellants, RP-1 >1200 kJ/kg

I am familiar with testing of the force constant for solid propellants using the closed bomb test. But what test method is used to obtain the force constant of liquid propellants? And is the force constant of RP-1 higher or lower than 1200 kJ/kg?
Mrr
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3
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Red oxygen as solid oxidizer?

Would it make sense to use solid (aka red) oxygen as oxidizer instead of liquid oxygen? (Red oxygen: An allotrope of solid oxygen (O8))
J. Doe
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In what state are the propellants entering a (RP-1) rocket engine's combustion chamber?

What I mean is that, when the fuel and oxidiser are mixed, at what state (solid - liquid - gaseous) is the oxygen and the fuel. To be more precise, I would like to know how it is for the Merlin engine of the Falcon 9 and the F-1 engine from the…
Dat Ha
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Desirable qualities of a propellant used in Electric Rockets

When I was looking into electric rockets I found out that the propellants used were Helium, Nitrogen, Argon, Krypton etc. The above elements are noble gases (with the exception of Nitrogen) but I also found that Lithium, Hydrazine and Hydrogen were…
user12889
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0 answers

Hazardous Propellant properties

is there a standard how NASA/ESA categorize hazardous propellant properties like flammability, toxicity, corrosiveness etc? Any links, papers, discussions would be greatly appreciated! Regards Christian
cl10k
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Would it be possible to use electrically charged plasma to drive a vehicle to space?

Electrically charged plasma is not extremely difficult, at least in materials needed. I was wondering if it would be a practical substance due to its high energy. I also thought that, if it remained in a cloud after use, it may be collected with an…
Thomas
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