From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Sun Jan 19 2003 - 10:27:57 MST
http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2003/03_04AR.html
<<NASA TESTS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ROCKET FUEL
NASA has successfully tested an alternative rocket fuel that may increase
operational safety and reduce costs over current solid fuels. The new
paraffin-based fuel could eventually be used in Space Shuttle booster
rockets.
Two years of collaboration between Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.,
and NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., have led to the
development of a non-toxic, easily handled fuel made from a substance similar
to what is used in common candles. The by-products of combustion of the new
fuel are carbon dioxide and water; unlike conventional rocket fuel that
produces aluminum oxide and acidic gasses, such as hydrogen chloride.
"There is great cost in making, handling and transporting traditional solid
rocket fuels, but the new paraffin-based fuel is less expensive, non-toxic
and non-hazardous," said Greg Zilliac of Ames. "Because the fuel is very
stable and environmentally friendly, a hybrid rocket could be fueled at the
launch site rather than at the factory, thereby saving money," he added.
The main goal of the NASA test program is to determine if the promising
results of earlier bench-top experiments conducted at Stanford will scale up
to the combustion chamber conditions required for space launch operational
systems. "The NASA combustion tests have been very promising and indicate the
burn rate for the larger-scale apparatus is as high as that achieved in the
small-scale Stanford tests," Zilliac continued. "This new fuel could
significantly impact the future of space transportation," he said. >>
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