All Questions
4
questions
7
votes
1
answer
275
views
Why does this sounding rocket have black sooty exhaust with mach-diamond-like oscillations? Is this unusual?
File footage of a sounding rocket with a dark, non-luminescent, sooty exhaust with mach-diamond-like oscillations is shown in the video 1957-1959 IBM 704 Computer - Vanguard Satellite Program "...
- 149k
4
votes
1
answer
105
views
Can kerolox or SRB soot particles grow too large too quickly; not accelerated in expanding exhaust leading to a loss of mass-specific impulse?
In this answer to Is methyl silane CH6Si ever considered as fuel in rocketry? I argue that there's no huge loss in mass-specific impulse (Isp) when producing sand (and by extension soot) in the ...
- 149k
7
votes
0
answers
722
views
What makes exhaust from aluminum-based SRB propellant so bright?
The brightness and color of the extremely bright light produced by the Space Shuttle SRB's is discussed in this answer and in comments below it, though the main subject there is the dim blue light ...
- 149k
13
votes
1
answer
860
views
Why do the shapes of these two exhaust plumes from an Atlas V 411 look different?
The Atlas V 411 configuration is interesting because there is a single SRB on one side of the first stage, requiring the main engines to vector substantially to keep the thrust mostly axial.
The ...
- 149k