SpaceX finds cause of Falcon 9 failure, eyes return to flight as soon as July 27

[Admin]

SpaceX has fixed the problem that caused its Falcon 9 rocket to fail during a July 11 launch, according to the company, which is eyeing a July 27 return to flight.

SpaceX finds cause of Falcon 9 failure, eyes return to flight as soon as July 27 : Read more

 

[DanaBspaced]

Good news.
Now, if we could just convince people to stop referring to LOX as propellant.

 

[danielravennest]

Good news.
Now, if we could just convince people to stop referring to LOX as propellant.

Space systems engineer here. It is a propellant. It goes into the engine and helps propel the vehicle. When referring to one of the components of chemical rocket propellants they are "fuel" and "oxidizer". Many fuel/oxidizer combinations are possible, such as the gaseous oxygen/salami used in demonstrations, but serious rockets have settled on hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen for efficiency reasons. Solid rocket propellants have the fuel and oxidizer premixed, typically a rubber/aluminum powder fuel and ammonium perchlorate oxidizer.

 

[Unclear Engineer]

Well, LOX is one of the "propellants". Yes, it is the "oxidizer" part, but the exhaust gases that it and the kerosene produce together are what actually propel the craft.

So, if you want to get pedantic about it, both LOX and kerosene are "precursors to propellant gases".

But, that is more of a mouthful than I would ask others to use, since "propellants" has worked for about 100 years to convey the concept. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Goddard .

 

[Ryan F. Mercer]

I just want to point out, DanaBspaced never said LOX isn't a propellent. They're merely advocating that we convince others that it isn't.