Questions tagged [fuel]
Questions about rocket oxidizer, propellant, reactive mass, or other fuels used in spacecraft or rockets.
2
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1answer
60 views
Hypergolic Propellant Combination
Is Rocket Grade Hydrogen Peroxide and Liquid Hydrogen a hypergolic propellant combination? I recall, seeing the combination somewhere on the www, however I couldn't retrace the source where I saw it.
2
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0answers
69 views
What fuels would make refueling in space more dangerous/complicated?
I saw the question:
Has in-space refueling been done?
And was actually beginning to wonder, is refueling and transferring propellant dangerous in space? I understand that this would most likely be ...
10
votes
1answer
2k views
Was there fuel consumption budgeting for Apollo 11 Lunar module?
Did the astronauts aboard Apollo 11's Lunar Module have any stated or imposed limitation or restriction on the amount of fuel they could use while in lunar orbit and performing landing maneuvers? I am ...
1
vote
0answers
93 views
What is the best fuel for bottle rocket? [closed]
I want to modify my firework bottle rocket to fly a mile high. What will be the best fuel for this? Could fuel used in space rockets be scaled down to work in a large bottle rocket?
4
votes
2answers
99 views
What are some notable cold gas thruster propellants, and why?
Cold gas thrusters are a very simple and reliable form of thruster that operate only by spraying a compressed gas, without any chemical reaction.
What are the most common, performant, or otherwise ...
3
votes
0answers
46 views
Falcon 9: how much fuel is left on a booster after stage separation?
If the booster attempts either land or sea landing, how much fuel (RP-1 and LOX) is left in its tanks right after stage separation?
Recently, I have heard numbers as high as 30% of its total tank ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views
How much fuel does the Falcon Heavy use? What is the price RP-1?
Does anyone know how much fuel the Falcon Heavy can hold, the RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer, and how much of that will it use to get to a certain point?
I don't know how i would calculate ...
6
votes
1answer
160 views
Why did the MarCO space probes use fire extinguishant as their propellant?
In many news articles, it's mentioned that the MarCO spacecraft, launched with InSight, used fire extinguishant as the propellant for its cold gas thrusters. I originally assumed that this was ...
4
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2answers
85 views
Propellants used for different Mars landers [till 2018]
What propellants have been used by lander to land on Mars surface?
3
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0answers
60 views
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 ...
4
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0answers
90 views
How much fuel is left in InSight?
InSight probably landed with some fuel margin.
Unless it was vented/burned on landing (maybe not a bad idea considering potential leaks down the road), is there some left ?
Do we know the ISP of ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
What could be the proprietary propellant blend that “Apollo Fusion” claims to have developed for it's hall effect thrusters?
According to the info posted on the Apollo fusion website http://apollofusion.com/ , they claim to use a propellant blend that offers " 2-3 X more impulse per mass and volume" in comparison towards ...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
How much fuel to maintain VLEO for communication satelites?
A recent answer about communication satellites in VLEO (≤350 km) estimates a useful orbital life of about month without fuel.
I.e. Once the vehicle is out of fuel to maintain orbit, THEN it has ...
8
votes
1answer
595 views
What percentage of overall fuel does a rocket burn up to get to max-q?
I know that max-q normally occurs around 11-15km (based on observations of watching falcon 9 launches and this). Furthermore, I know that the fuel usage for each rocket would vary a lot (which I ...
5
votes
1answer
138 views
Insulation used in the plumbing line of the actual rockets
While using the pipes for plumbing of the liquid propellants at pretty low temperature because of which ice form on the line if not insulated or poorly insulated, which can lead to liquid to gas ...
3
votes
0answers
58 views
Pressurization line (Helium to LOX tank line) chilling while pressurizing LOX tank
I have read that in rockets and launch vehicles Helium is used for the pressurization of propellant tanks.
What temperature Helium is stored at?
If Helium is stored at room temperature then while ...
11
votes
1answer
439 views
Does the Soyuz spacecraft chemically stabilize the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to remain ISS-dockable for 200+ days?
Hydrogen peroxide from the local shop (dilute, 2-3%) sometimes has a stabilizer to slow it's breakdown rate and increase it's "shelf-life", since we'd like to keep it around the house on our shelf for ...
2
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0answers
54 views
Is it feasible to take liquid Helium in a Pressure Fed System?
Can liquid Helium be flowed through a heat exhanger to increase its temperature and pressure which will further pressurize fuel-oxidizer tanks.
6
votes
1answer
364 views
Why is ethylene (ethene) not considered as a rocket fuel
In an answer to this question, the brilliant diagram below was given:
The chart makes chilled ethylene look like a very appealing choice, yet I don't believe it is ever used. Why not?
Edit: I just ...
6
votes
1answer
157 views
Curves on Isp/density chart, what varies along each curve?
In an answer to this question, the brilliant diagram below was given:
Each fuel has a similarly shaped curve on the chart. What does that signify? what varies along the curve?
3
votes
2answers
99 views
Do military rockets use the same fuels as their civilian versions?
Some rocket families have been used for both military and civilian purposes (e.g. Atlas). Do the military versions use the same fuel as their civilian counterparts?
4
votes
1answer
141 views
How do they know how much liquid propellant is in a rocket just before launch?
In this answer I wrote:
In other words, a few tons here or there could depend on something as simple as the weather, or trying to squeeze a little extra propellant in for a given mission with a ...
6
votes
1answer
353 views
Russian “kerosene” versus American “RP-1”
RP-1 rocket fuel is a "highly refined form of kerosene". Most of the literature I have seen refers to Russian rockets using kerosene, versus American rockets using RP-1 (*1).
Is there really such a ...
32
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3answers
7k views
What is the primary reason for SpaceX motion to have astronauts board Dragon before fueling up the rocket?
News piece: NASA supports SpaceX plan to fuel rockets with astronauts on board.
The move is criticized by many as unnecessarily dangerous.
From what I understand though, it shouldn't be necessary - ...
6
votes
1answer
117 views
Is the atmosphere a positive or a negative for reusability?
Does the atmosphere provide a benefit or detriment in terms of fuel economy for rockets that take off and land back on Earth? We know that the atmosphere plays a large role in helping slow down ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Why do Ariane rockets not have ice break off on liftoff?
In a recent question asked here, it was asked what debris falling from a Rocket Lab Electron Rocket was during launch.
e.g.:
The answer, was that it was ice that had formed after cryogenic fuel/...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
Propellant filling rate in propellant tanks [closed]
I want to pump LOX into a pressure vessel at 2 bar (say). So for pumping it what should be safest flow rate?
4
votes
1answer
554 views
Vector-R's LP-1 and -2 engines use liquid propylene as fuel with LOX, advantages and distinctions from kerosene?
@gwally's answer highlights the company Vector Launch Inc. and their Vector-R rocket, which uses three LP-1 18,300 lbf engines on the first stage and one LP-2 1,000 lbf second stage engine to put ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
Which is preferred for liquid atomization - gas & liquid shear or liquid & liquid shear?
For generating a spray of droplets, liquid need to be disintegrated/atomized through shear forces.
Typical injectors in IC engines and aircraft use shear between gas & liquid at the phase ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
What is the surrogate liquid for LOx during the preliminary testing of injectors?
Before transitioning to the LOx tests during any new injector development, water is typically used for calculating flow rates, pressure loss, etc.
But testing with water cannot qualify as a suitable ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
How are the Titan Transtage's tanks protected from its engine?
As a follow up to this answer which identifies the two pointed objects flanking the Titan Transtage's engine in an unusual configuration as its propellant tanks:
How are these protected from the heat ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
What is the Oxidiser/Fuel Ratio of the Atlas V Centaur Upper Stage?
I can't find this information anywhere for the single or double engine variant. could it be variable? Or is it a secret?
0
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1answer
100 views
Could the interaction of the Sun’s solar wind and trapped plasma ions be used to propel a rocket through interplanetary space?
I have recently had a renewed interest in comets and how comet tails are formed. From studying this process, a thought occurred to me that perhaps plasma ions can be created within a long hollow ...
13
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1answer
1k views
Why does the 2nd stage of Falcon 9 need compressed He tanks?
It is well known that the rapid disassembly of Falcon 9 static testing started with the rupture of the composite fibres of the copv He tanks.
But what is the need to have the composite tanks ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Rocket engine power vs. Sound
Is there any relationship between the sound emitted from a rocket engine and the amount of thrust it gets at surface temperature and pressure?
5
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0answers
112 views
What is the droplet size that is desirable for pintle injectors?
The pintle injectors tend to generate droplets after impingement of the fuel and the oxidiser stream and I understand that the droplets will be premixed.
In such a case, even a larger premixed ...
22
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is fuel ratio different for upper stage of a rocket?
After reviewing this amazing graphic posted in another question:
I noticed that the LH/LOX ratio is slightly different in the Second and Third stages. The mass stoichiometry of the reaction:
2 H2 + ...
6
votes
2answers
99 views
How do you calculate what percent of hydrogen combustion is turned into heat vs pressure?
As a high school calculus and physics student interested in aerospace engineering, I was trying to understand the basics of how a rocket works and couldn’t find an equation or any analysis online on ...
5
votes
2answers
460 views
What are the energy-to-mass ratios of some fuels/oxidizers, when including the oxidizer?
Energy-to-weight ratio is an important parameter. We would like it to be high so we don't have to carry around much fuel.
Maybe you've heard some of the numbers for common fuels. Hydrogen is about ...
8
votes
1answer
278 views
InSight Launch - Centaur Fuel Rich
During the launch of InSight today one thing sprung out to me: at T+408s the voiceover announces:
Centaur slightly fuel rich.
And again at ...
6
votes
2answers
234 views
Safety regulations for storing, handling, and using rocket fuels?
How does a company with no experience in space (like SpaceX or Blue Origin) find out how to safely handle hazardous and flammable fuels?
Are there safety regulations for how to store, handle, and ...
3
votes
2answers
100 views
Remaining fuel estimation/measuring Strategy in a spacecraft
During descent of a spacecraft to any planetary body the spacecraft uses retro engine with variable throttle to reduce the vehicle velocity to zero at touchdown.
Inorder to compute for the amount of ...
1
vote
0answers
94 views
Are there any situations where hot rather than cold propellants might be advantageous?
Given that cryogenic fuel and oxidisers exist, I wonder if the reverse is workable.
Are there fuels or oxidisers that have been considered for rockets that must be kept hot to be usable? By hot I ...
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vote
0answers
123 views
How to size Solar Array for Mars Surface
Good morning everyone,
I am working on a project for my university where we need to perform a PrePhase A study for a Mars Infrastructure for Propellant production as a means of support for future ...
5
votes
2answers
207 views
Pro/cons of burning propellant in stochiometric ratio?
Several questions and answers here speak of stochiometric ratio. I do understand it is convinient for efficiency (greater ISP). I also read somewhere (I am unable ro find again the reference, it was ...
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vote
0answers
54 views
Is fuel tank pressure structurally important? [duplicate]
Being super lightweight structures, do rockets depend to some degree on internal pressure of their fuel tanks for structural integrity?
5
votes
3answers
931 views
How was the Centaur stage fueled in the Space Shuttle?
The Space Shuttle had the ability to launch Centaur booster stages stored inside of the Shuttle during launch. How was this stage fueled, being fueled with cryogenic fuels?
3
votes
1answer
454 views
Could oxyhydrogen (2:1 H2/O2 mix) be used as a rocket fuel
I have been wondering about why oxyhydrogen (HHO) (a ~2:1 H2/O2 stoichiometric mixture) hasn't been used as a fuel? I know it has been used for bottle rockets and other types of small scale rockets, ...
5
votes
0answers
215 views
Which chemical propellant combination has the highest theoretical isp?
That is disregarding practical factors like making a bomb rather than a rocket in the case of using acetylene+ozone.
I know that the highest isp achieved was 542 with lithium, hydrogen, and fluorine. ...
1
vote
2answers
301 views
Is there a chemical propellant combination with Isp between Methalox and Hydrolox?
Methalox rocket engines (Liquid Methane and Liquid Oxygen) have theoretical specific impulse in the high 300's.
Hydrolox rocket engines (Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen) have theoretical specific ...
