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threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works

New propellant combo just dropped (infosec.pub)

submitted 1 month ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spaceflightmemes@sh.itjust.works

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I propose the hydrogen cyanide - fluorine rocket.

It has the fabulous potential for a vacuum Isp of up to 380s, with a propellant mix density of 1023 kg/m^3, handily beating methalox mixes. It is non-cryogenic and burns at over 4000K.

Exhaust is 43.3% hydrogen fluoride.

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[–] NaibofTabr 30 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Hydrogen fluoride (fluorane) is an inorganic compound with chemical formula HF. It is a very poisonous, colorless gas or liquid that dissolves in water to yield hydrofluoric acid.
[...]
Hydrogen fluoride is an extremely dangerous gas, forming corrosive and penetrating hydrofluoric acid upon contact with moisture. The gas can also cause blindness by rapid destruction of the corneas.

from Wikipedia

Oh yeah, sounds like fun.

Um, how quickly would this eat the bell nozzle? I feel like the rocket engine just wouldn't last very long.

[–] grillgamesh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 month ago

my guess, with rough guesses via gut math? probably no longer than 5 minutes, with an ablative teflon coating. maybe longer if fired in short bursts to allow for ablated material to cool, but definitely not safe to fire within atmosphere.

[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago

Urgh, those burns are gross

[–] untakenusername@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago

there's probably some material that would work for this, like the sort they use in the inside of the oxidizer turbopump in staged combustion rocket engines

[–] grillgamesh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

oh......... oh good gods.

43.3% HF exhaust? good fucking gods that's scary. I would be interested in seeing a thrust test with an engine burning that though..... for RCS type engines it might be worth the danger..... but then again we have udmh for that which works very well for RCS.

[–] truxnell@aussie.zone 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

As long as tested on a different planet, in a different solar system, I'm ok with this

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What a NIMBY

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not in my low earth orbit.

[–] untorquer@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Seriously, who needs foliage, or lungs, or skin, or bones....

[–] jia_tan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

CNSA about to Paperclip this guy! Such an effective way to increase collateral damage from routine launches!

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago

How much of a war crime would it be to gift a missile with this as its propulsion system to a foreign nation you don't like?

[–] untorquer@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Wasn't this in Ignition!?