From: quest@iowegia.uucp (Steve J. Quest)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Home made rockets
Date: 22 Aug 92 18:50:25 GMT
Organization: Iowegia Waffle BBS, Clive IA USA, +1 515 226 2156

Frederick.A.Ringwald@dartmouth.edu (Frederick A. Ringwald) writes:

> I really doubt it. First, that he even brings up the topic of a
> KNO3/sugar mixture, melted and spooned into a rocket casing - just that
> he can bring up this particular specification at all - shows he has no
> idea just how dangerous it is, that there are much safer and more
> effective ways of making rockets, and most seriously, that since he
> didn't know this, he didn't do his homework FIRST before beginning work
> with obviously hazardous materials. (It's a rocket, for crying out
> loud!)
> 
> P.S. I have extreme difficulty believing your claim of building a
> rocket with 40 kg of propellant for a few hundred dollars as a
> teenager. ThatUs a veritable anti-aircraft weapon! Furthermore, I think
> your assertion that it's not science unless you break the safety rules
> is unconscionably irresponsible: look what happened when some real
> rocket scientists broke the safety rules with Challenger.


Fred,

        As a scientific professional (NOW I am an adult, and 
merely reflect on the exploits of my past), I can say that in MY 
opinion, this guy had and could successfully fly homebrew rockets 
without mishap.  I would NOT impede his quest for knowledge.

        Chemically, the temperature sugar melts at (only the fuel 
will melt, not the oxidizer) is FAR below the combustion 
temperature for that fuel.  It *IS* safe to melt and cast 
sugar/saltpeter fuels.  Rate of combustion is very slow with that 
fuel too- so chances of an explosion are low, and if pressures DO 
build, you can only get a minor explosion.  Estes rocket fuel is 
black powder- classified as a high explosive by the DOT for 
transport.  Estes engines can explode if the pressures are 
confined, and the explosion is quite dangerous!  This statement is 
based strictly on the chemical compositions we are discussing- it 
contains NO opinion.  His sugar fuel is safer than black powder.

        Trinitrification of toluene resulted in a waxey solid.  I 
experimented with this waxey solid as a younger man.  I melted and 
cast it into "shells".  I was dumb, but not stupid.  I also never 
had a mishap.  If I hadn't gone through my "basement bomber" 
stage, I would not be a professional scientist today.  The fun I 
had then was the driving force that kept me interested in science, 
all the way to where I am today.  I work in science research and 
education.  If everything goes the way I have planned, I will move 
more into education- so I can take people like him, and make them 
into people like me.

        If this guy were to experiment with aluminum/ammonium 
perchlorate fuels, I would HOPE he were very safe, as black powder 
is a mere combustible solid.  Under the right pressures, 
aluminum/oxidizer mixtures can be quite powerful explosives, with 
velocities of shock wave measured in thousands of feet per second.
I would call them potential explosives- but that risk is there if 
you want your rocket to reach altitudes of greater than 12,000 
feet (with guidance and payload).  Science is a risk.  I do 
somewhat risky things every day.  Common sense has kept me alive 
to be able to comment on my work.  Let's hope common sense is 
working for this guy too..................sq