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Questions tagged [hybrid-rocket]

Rocket engines which consist of a solid propellant and a liquid or gaseous oxidizer.

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13 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why NASA's sudden renewed (apparently) interest in Wax hybrid engines? Which property is so attractive now?

update: This answer links to Larry Russell Kellogg which links to NASA Tests Environmentally Friendly Rocket Fuel where images of Test firing of new Paraffin-Based Fuel at NASA Ames Research Center 1/...
uhoh's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
798 views

What properties define a good solid propellant for a hybrid engine? (e.g. why not use wood?)

This comment got me thinking... Pure oxygen from a tank of LOX can allow a wide variety of materials to be used as a convenient if not always optimal rocket propellant; things like parafin and sugar ...
uhoh's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
394 views

Does NASA still plan for the Mars Ascent Vehicle to burn wax from the surface to orbit?

The NASA news item From Pedicures to the Peregrine Rocket, Paraffin Wax Proves Its Worth says: The paraffin-based fuel also works under challenging environmental conditions, like the very low ...
uhoh's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
698 views

Why sugar is not commonly used as fuel in hybrid rocket engine?

Hybrid rocket engine usually used rubber or plastic as fuel but why not sugar? Just like many amateur solid rocket motors used sugar. What are the advantages of using rubber in hybrid engine over ...
Karl Yu's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why did Virgin Galactic switch back to HTPB after one launch using thermoplastic polyamide (i.e. nylon)?

A subsection of Second-generation engine in Wikipedia's article on RocketMotorTwo says: New fuel formulation Rather than use rubber-based HTPB in the solid portion of the hybrid rocket motor—which ...
uhoh's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
558 views

Why did Virgin Galactic decide to use a hybrid engine vs liquid on their space ship?

To me, it seems like their business case is very dependent on rapid reuse. With this in mind, using a hybrid engine that would need to be replaced every flight seems very counter intuitive vs a liquid ...
David's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
204 views

Are there any complications of the position of the oxidizer injector on Orbitec's vortex rocket engine?

Orbitec's vortex rocket engine injects oxidizer from near the nozzle up the wall of the engine chamber in a vortex. The oxidizer injector being in this position seems unusual. Are there any ...
called2voyage's user avatar
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