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Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:52 pm
by pauldear
Gentlemen, it appears we have competition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4wTFuaV8VQThanks to James Wagstaff of pictureandword for bringing this important development to my attention.
Paul.
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:49 am
by rick m
That's one of my favorite you tube sites though there is a disclaimer at the end that says their research has shown bacon is not a suitable construction material for rockets. I also find it is far too expensive to be used as a rocket casing.
They actually got it backwards as bacon should not be powered by a powerful rocket but power the rocket with bacon that would then make Bacon and Rocketry, in Perfect Harmony. We tried bacon grease (why waste the bacon) with our oxidizer and it showed promise except for the low melting point...it did smell good.
My friend loves his shirt.
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:06 pm
by pauldear
I think the entire field of culinary astronautics is up for grabs here. There's already sugar-based rocketry and steam power. If we can work out how to integrate coffee we'll have it made.
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:33 am
by rick m
Not a coffee person but we have tried flour, rice, peanut butter, pencil sharpener shavings, ground up tree leaves, etc.
Some things just naturally lend themselves for making a good propellant and others, well, let's say not so good.
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:02 pm
by pauldear
Coffee grounds - I think they contain a bit of oil, otherwise mostly cellulose and ligning I guess. And think of the smell at the launch.....ahhhhh.
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Mon Apr 25, 2011 3:33 am
by rick m
" And think of the smell at the launch"
That is why I would never use coffee...I hate the taste and smell. I thought Brits love tea?
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:36 pm
by pauldear
Nah, I use espresso medicinally.
Actually, maybe dried tea-leaves plus oxidizer.... you could be sponsored by Tetley!
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:06 am
by rick m
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:46 pm
by pyramids
Tea leaves + hydrogen peroxide --> hot, even steamed and a bit bleached tea, slightly sparkling (carbonated) from the accompanying CO2?
Re: Low-cost rocket casing
Posted:
Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:34 am
by rick m
Just came across these old posts and they reminded me of the students in the afterschool rocketry club I used to have. I was sweeping autumn leaves from outside my door and one of my students said "Rocket fuel" and I said "Let's try it"
We let them thoroughly dry, crushed them, and then tried to grind it into a powder with mortar and pestle l (very hard to grind flexible flat things) and then soaked with super saturated solution of KNO3 for the oxidizer. The result? A very labor intensive low Isp propellant. After that experience, my students were always looking for new solid rocket fuels...cow dung, shavings from the pencil sharpener, etc.
Rick