Long March into Space - 03.jpg (1/1) [116K]

[Netko]

Launch of a Chang Zheng (Long March) rocket

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Netko" > wrote in message
x.com...
>
> Launch of a Chang Zheng (Long March) rocket

Does anyone know what type of fuel they are using that makes such an
orange-red exhaust plume? It seems so much different than what I am used to
seeing.
--
Jim in NC

[hielan' laddie]

On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:20:34 -0500, Morgans wrote
(in article >):

>
> "Netko" > wrote in message
> x.com...
>>
>> Launch of a Chang Zheng (Long March) rocket
>
> Does anyone know what type of fuel they are using that makes such an
> orange-red exhaust plume? It seems so much different than what I am used to
> seeing.
>

I was thinking that it was probably red fuming nitric acid for the oxidiser
and something like hydrazine for the fuel. American Titan rockets used the
same mix, or white fuming nitric acid instead, 'cause it's hypergolic (the
two items ignite on contact) and so doesn't need specialised ignition
systems, and the storage requirements are much lower than that required for
LOX/LH or LOX/JP4. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(rocket_family)>

Here's a pic of a Titan lifting, using white fuming nitric as the oxidiser:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Last_Titan_Rocket-Vanderburg_AFB.jpg>

Of course, it's _nitric acid_ and _hydrazine_, so staying upwind is a Really
Good Idea.