Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Unknown Target on April 07, 2004, 06:44:53 am

Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Unknown Target on April 07, 2004, 06:44:53 am
How do you build [big, real-life, send-you-to-orbit] rocket engines? I have to write a paper for someone, but I can't really find this info.


EDIT: I'm not expecting anyone here to be well-versed, but a link to info would be really appreciated :)

Thanks!
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: demon442 on April 07, 2004, 06:57:47 am
Build a giant tube with a funnel at the bottom, fill it with rocket fuel (solid oxygen?), 'light the candle' and run.
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: beatspete on April 07, 2004, 07:13:25 am
Solid or liquid?  
Solid rocket boosters (SRBs) are the 2 white rockets on the side of the space shuttle. They can't be shut off once started, but are fairly simple.
Good link - http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/srb.html


And for your liquid engines (the kind on-board a space shuttle/craft)
http://woodmansee.com/science/rocket/r-liquid/index-liquid.html

phear google.
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Odyssey on April 07, 2004, 07:30:50 am
http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20040403
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Bobboau on April 07, 2004, 09:14:31 am
look into "the x-prize"
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Unknown Target on April 07, 2004, 11:07:28 am
Thanks beatspete, but I really mean to build, such as materials, tools, etc. I already have that info :)
BTW, when writing a paper, do you have to make your own pictures, or can you use others as long as you put them in the bibleograhpy?
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: an0n on April 07, 2004, 11:10:50 am
Aren't liquid-fuel rockets banned? I thought the Challenger Disaster lead to them being considered amazingly unsafe.
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Unknown Target on April 07, 2004, 11:23:53 am
Nope, they're not. Challenger was blown up by a busted O-Ring. That particular flaw has been fixed, I believe.
But that's not the point of this thread :) ;)
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Bobboau on April 07, 2004, 11:27:02 am
not only that but it was caused by a defect in the SOLID fuel rockets
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Unknown Target on April 07, 2004, 11:31:05 am
I was thinking that they were solid-fuel, but I didn't want to say it and be wrong. Thanks for the clarification, Bob :)

Anyway, can anyone help me with my research problem? :)
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Janos on April 07, 2004, 11:51:06 am
How big?

If doing just a small one, buy some gunpowder and a cardboard pipe.
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: diamondgeezer on April 07, 2004, 12:28:17 pm
Quote
Originally posted by demon442
(solid oxygen?)

Please tell me you're making a funny with this one
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Odyssey on April 07, 2004, 12:59:37 pm
[color=cc9900]He's not, I eat the stuff regularly. It makes a great salad sauce if you melt it a bit. Helps curries burn your mouth too.[/color]
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Unknown Target on April 07, 2004, 06:54:13 pm
You can freeze oxygen if it's cold enough :rolleyes:

Anyway, big enough to propell a large payload into space, Janos.
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: beatspete on April 07, 2004, 07:14:31 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Unknown Target
Thanks beatspete, but I really mean to build, such as materials, tools, etc. I already have that info :)
BTW, when writing a paper, do you have to make your own pictures, or can you use others as long as you put them in the bibleograhpy?



I think you need to look at your question a bit.  Rockets to get a "large payload" into space weigh hundreds of tons.  You can't make them in your garage.

doesnt mean people aren't trying,
http://www.starchaser.co.uk


Oh and yes, but use the bibleography. Who are you writing it for?  I don't think many people would ask you to draw your own rocket motor diagrams...
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Corsair on April 07, 2004, 09:11:22 pm
Large amounts of black powder. ;7
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Stealth[cro] on April 08, 2004, 04:59:09 am
Quote
Originally posted by Corsair
Large amounts of black powder. ;7

Packed or non-packed? ;)

As an alternaticve to all those sites, maybe a downloadable Anarchist's Cookbook would do :nervous: I recall a couple of schematics for single and multi-stage rockets.
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: Unknown Target on April 08, 2004, 06:40:25 am
I'm not trying to make them in my garage. This is all for 1000 Planets (www.1000planets.com). I'm working part time (hopefully full-time, if we actually get something into space) for them, and I need to write up this proposal, so the company heads can know what options are out there.
But I didn't tell you that!
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: demon442 on April 08, 2004, 07:13:46 am
DG: Actually, at the time I wasn't sure if there was such a thing as solid oxygen.  So, to avoid making an ass of myself, I put it in parenthesis (sp?).

While we're speaking of the AC, soes anybody have a copy with the measurment still intact?  All the copies that i've downloaded have lost the critical measurments in the better explosives.  I'm making 4th of July fireworks this year.

For a cheaper method, use the bottle-rocket as a model.  Heavily packed gunpowder in a tube with a hole in the bottom for the force to escape.  Make it big enough and with enough powder and I guess its possible to get into space if it dosent explode in midair.
Title: space.com
Post by: wizz33 on April 08, 2004, 07:39:13 am
look at the Space.com message boords (mission @ lounches)

some good sites, compangies
http://www.hobbyspace.com/Links/RLVNews.html (the rocket compangie)
www.spaceX.com
http://www.scaled.com/
http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home
(Jhon carmac of doom(III) fame)

i hope you find your aswers here :)
Title: Re: space.com
Post by: Setekh on April 08, 2004, 09:00:11 am
Quote
Originally posted by wizz33
look at the Space.com message boords (mission @ lounches)

some good sites, compangies
http://www.hobbyspace.com/Links/RLVNews.html (the rocket compangie)
www.spaceX.com
http://www.scaled.com/
http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home
(Jhon carmac of doom(III) fame)

i hope you find your aswers here :)


Hey, some of those links are really cool to read. Cheers. :)
Title: Rocket engines...
Post by: wizz33 on April 08, 2004, 08:49:47 pm
tank you i am cerified arm chair left handed space fan :)