Self taught rocket builder launching himself
Discussion
Tango13 said:
Most rockets are steam powered one way or another.
High test peroxide is dissolved over a catalyst to provide very high pressure steam.
The steam is then used to drive impellors connected to the fuel pumps.
Another way is to mix the superheated steam with a suitable fuel which will combust in the rocket chamber to provide thrust.
Is that actually true. I don't think it is.High test peroxide is dissolved over a catalyst to provide very high pressure steam.
The steam is then used to drive impellors connected to the fuel pumps.
Another way is to mix the superheated steam with a suitable fuel which will combust in the rocket chamber to provide thrust.
Peroxide is an oxygen source within which you can burn almost anything. It simply supplies oxygen for burning a substrate in the rocket. You don't burn steam, its oxygen + whatever you want to use as a high gas yield substrate
Propellant needs to be squirted into the combustion chambers of a rocket. In some rockets (usually smaller ones), the propellant is squirted into the chamber by the simple device of pressurising the propellant tanks using a neutral gas - such as helium or nitrogen. That was the technique used on early versions of the XLR11 engines used on the Bell X-1.
For larger engines with bigger propellant tanks, a turbopump system is usually used. In order to spin up the turbopump, you need to pass a high speed gas exhaust through the turbine vanes. This high pressure gas flow can be achieved a number of ways - one of which is described above.
If you listen carefully to a Shuttle launch, about six seconds before main engine ignition you can hear the "whee" noise as the turbines spin up from zero rpm to about 28,000 rpm.
For larger engines with bigger propellant tanks, a turbopump system is usually used. In order to spin up the turbopump, you need to pass a high speed gas exhaust through the turbine vanes. This high pressure gas flow can be achieved a number of ways - one of which is described above.
If you listen carefully to a Shuttle launch, about six seconds before main engine ignition you can hear the "whee" noise as the turbines spin up from zero rpm to about 28,000 rpm.
Tango13 said:
Ali G said:
Wtf is a steam powered rocket?
Most rockets are steam powered one way or another.High test peroxide is dissolved over a catalyst to provide very high pressure steam.
The steam is then used to drive impellors connected to the fuel pumps.
Another way is to mix the superheated steam with a suitable fuel which will combust in the rocket chamber to provide thrust.
Who said rocket science was difficult?
Turns out you cant just launch a rocket over a crowded area regardless of the size of your stones 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-sc...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-sc...
julian64 said:
Tango13 said:
Most rockets are steam powered one way or another.
High test peroxide is dissolved over a catalyst to provide very high pressure steam.
The steam is then used to drive impellors connected to the fuel pumps.
Another way is to mix the superheated steam with a suitable fuel which will combust in the rocket chamber to provide thrust.
Is that actually true. I don't think it is.High test peroxide is dissolved over a catalyst to provide very high pressure steam.
The steam is then used to drive impellors connected to the fuel pumps.
Another way is to mix the superheated steam with a suitable fuel which will combust in the rocket chamber to provide thrust.
Peroxide is an oxygen source within which you can burn almost anything. It simply supplies oxygen for burning a substrate in the rocket. You don't burn steam, its oxygen + whatever you want to use as a high gas yield substrate
The decomposed HTP is basically lots of hydrogen and oxygen at seriously high temperatures, pretty much any fuel will spontaneously combust at such temperatures thus saving the need for any form of ignition source.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Siddeley_Gam...
Gav147 said:
Seems it is not his first attempt video of one of his previous attempts, apparently launch pressure is ~400psi in his steam rocket and yes he is sat next to it.... what could possibly go wrong!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3feaiPcv6yE
Was he in that thing when it went up? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3feaiPcv6yE
Edited by Gav147 on Monday 20th November 18:27
Loony!
Matthen said:
Well? Did he survive? Does anyone know?
The launch didn't happened. The government were scared he would expose the truth, so the Bureau of land management scuppered his plans. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/f...
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