Index

A

A. See Compound A

A-4. See German ballistic missile (A-4)

Abramson, Bert, 67, 127, 130–131

Acetic anhydride, WFNA freezing point and, 44

Acetonitrile

decaborane plus hydrazine and, as monopropellant, 146–147

as hydrazine additive, 39, 146–47

tetranitromethane plus, as monopropellant, 135

Acetylene, 30

liquid hydrogen plus, as monopropellant, 134n

oxygen-ammonia system and, 95

research with derivatives, 29, 30, 30–31, 122

Acid(s)

ignition and reactions with bonds, 26

See also specific acid

Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA), “Project Principia,” 153, 158, 160

Aerojet Engineering

founding, 18

research, 19, 35, 37, 49, 56, 97; borane, 113, 117; borohydrides, 117; deep space rockets, 78; hybrid propellants, 160, 166, 169, 170, 171; hydrazines, 117; liquid fluorine, 100; liquid hydrogen, 97; monopropellants, 125, 132, 139, 147, 158; oxidizers, 74

Aeronautical Research Institute, Braunschweig (ARIB), 10

Aeroprojects, hybrid propellant research, 165, 172

Aerozine-50, 39

Agena motor, fuel for, 56

Ahlert, Bob, 146, 150

Air Products, monopropellant research, 134

Air Reduction Company

monopropellant research, 122, 149–150

ozone work, 103–104

propellant production, 32

Alcohol(s)

additives and heat flux, 97

aniline and RFNA plus, use of, 22

hypergolicity studies, 25

liquid oxygen plus, use of, 94, 97, 107

for long-range ballistic missiles, 21

See also specific alcohol

Alkyl borane derivatives, research on, 112, 113

Allied Chemical and Dye Company research, 45

monopropellants, 133, 154

oxidizers, 76, 77

Altman, Dave, 19

Aluminum additives, 7

in gasoline, 14

in gelled propellants, 166–167; problems with, 167–168, 169

for high-density fuels, 164 in hydrazine, 170–171; decomposition and, 168

for oxygen motor starts, 97

Aluminum borohydrides, 117–118

Aluminum hydrides, 169

“Alumizine,” 167

American Cyanamid Company research, 17, 18, 153

American Interplanetary Society, 3

American Rocket Society (ARS), 17

Amines, 29, 32–33, 105

hypergolicity of, 12, 25–26

mixed amine fluid (MAF), 178

nitrate salts: as monopropellants, 126–133, 134, 135–138, 140–145; structure-sensitivity relations, 137n

tertiary, 32–33

See also specific amine

Ammonia

additives and heat flux, 97

ammonium nitrate plus, 14

chlorine trifluoride and, 67, 68

fuming nitric acid and, 23

hydrazine and, 35

hypergolicity studies, 22–23

liquid fluorine plus, 100

liquid oxygen plus, 95, 97

methylamine plus, 23

salts and hydrogen peroxide freezing point, 62

See also specific compound

Ammonium borohydride, 117

Ammonium nitrate, 123–124

hydrogen peroxide plus, 61–62

WFNA freezing point and, 44

Ammonium thiocyanate, 36

Amster, A. B., 99

Aniline, 12, 13

alcohols and, 22, 25

disadvantages of, 17

freezing point depression, 17, 18

hydrazine plus, 36

methylamine plus, 36

RFNA plus, 16, 22; disadvantages of, 22; JATO and, 16, 17

spontaneous ignition, 11

Aoki, Kenneth, 145

Apollo service engine, 56

Arbit, H. A., 172

“Arcogels,” 162

Argon fluoride, 66n

Armour Research Institute. See Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (IITRI)

Armstrong, Don, 35, 117

Arnold, General Henry Harley (“Hap”), 8, 10

Arnold, Weld, 8

Aston, 37–38

Atlantic Research Company, 162, 171

Atlas missile, 96, 97

Atzwanger, 72

Audrieth, 34

B

Barrett, Wayne, 143

Barrick, P. L., 98

Barsh, Max, 139

Barth-Wehrenalp, 72, 73

Bartlett, Neil, 77, 80

Bauer, Hans, 79

Baumé, 79

Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) research, 10–12, 14

high-density fuels, 164

hybrid rockets, 159

Beardell, A. J., 166

Beighley, G. M., 171

Bell Aircraft Company research, 44, 56

Chariot motor, 101

chlorine trifluoride, 67, 69

Bendix Corporation, 23

Benzene, use of, 5, 12

Berry, W. E., 103

Beryllium, 117–118

Be-O-H system, 171–172

gelled propellants plus, 166, 169–170

hydrazines plus, 171

usefulness of, 174

Beryllium hydrides, 169–170

Beryllium oxide, 169

Boeing Aircraft, 164

Boranes

alkyl derivatives, work on, 112, 113

BN system, 115–117, 145–148

carborane discovery, 113

described, 110–111

future for, 119, 174

heat of combustion, 111

hydrazine plus, 146–148

as monopropellants, 139, 146–148

Russian work on, 108

See also specific compound (e.g., Decaborane; Diborane; Pentaborane)

Borden, 22

Borohydrides, 117–118

Boron

as additive to gelled fuels, 166

nitric acid plus, 139

suspensions in hybrid propellants, 170–171

Boron carbide, 170–171

Boron nitride system and boranes, 114–117, 145–148

Boron trioxide, 113

Bost, Howard, 32–33, 133, 136, 138, 139, 140, 142, 144

Boyd, W. K., 103

Brickwedde, 98

British Interplanetary Society, 3

Bromine, nature of compounds with fluorine, 66, 68

Buffalo Electrochemical Company (BECCO) research

hydrogen peroxide, 60, 61

monopropellants, 120

torpedo propellants, 121

Bull, Harry W., 7

Bullpup missile, 56

Bureau of Aeronautics, U.S. Navy (BuAer), “Project Zip,” 112

Burket, S., 49

Butanol, nitromethane plus, 19, 125

Butyl mercaptan, 26

C

Cady, George, 158

Callery Chemical Company research, 44, 49

borane, 112, 114

monopropellants, 145–146, 153, 155

oxidizers, 74

Campbell, E. D., 36

Carboranes, 113

Carbon, fluoride-type oxidizers and, 68–69

Carbon black, interhalogens and, 165

Card-gap test, 69n, 149

Cavea, 158

availability of salt, 141, 143–145

Cavea B firing, 145

detonation traps, 150–151

discovery of, 140

freezing point, 141

mercury plus, as fuel for hybrids, 163

synthesis of salt, 141–142, 144

Centaur motor, 99

Chariot motor, 101

Cherenko, J. P., 155

Chlorides, hydrogen peroxide and, 62

Chlorine compounds, research with, 71–73. See also specific compound

Chlorine pentafluoride. See Compound A

Chlorine trifluoride (ClF3; CTF), 13, 67–71

described, 66–67

discovery of, 66

fuels available for, 67, 68–69

handling problems and dangers, 66–67, 67–68

hydrazines plus, 69–70

hypergolicity of, 66

as oxidizer for hybrids, 160, 162

propellant gelling with, 166

Chromium salts, nitromethane and, 19

Clapp, S. D., 172

Clark, J. D., 46–48, 51, 55, 69, 69–70, 72, 77, 80, 86, 94, 134, 147–148

ClF5. See Compound A

Coach, Dean, 164

Coates, G. E., 169

Cohen, Murray, 113

Colburn, 74, 76

Cole, L. G., 23, 49

Collins, 49

Commercial Solvents Company, 124

Compound A, 78–80

hydrazine plus, 91–92

usefulness of, 174

Compound B, 78, 81

Compound Delta, 158

Compound M, 157–158

Compound Omega, 80

Compound R, 157–158

Compound X, 76

Computers, use of, 87, 88, 157

Connaughton, 157

Corcoran, J. M., 36

Corporal missile, 19, 22–23, 25, 36

Crocco, General G.-A., 4n

Crocco, Luigi, 4–5, 7, 15

Crossfield, Scott, 95

Cryogenics, defined, 21

C-Stoff, 10

CTF. See Chlorine trifluoride (ClF3; CTF)

Cuddy, Bill, 134–135, 146, 149

Cyanamid in monopropellants, 157

Cyclooctatetraene, WFNA plus, 23

D

Decaborane, 111

alkyls, research on, 112, 113

availability of, 113

effects of ammonia and, 23

future for, 174

hydrazines plus, 146–147

Dennison, D. M., 98

Dewar, Sir James, 2, 100

Diamant, 23n

Diamines, research on, 33, 105

1, 4-diaza, 1, 4-dimethyl, bicyclo 2, 2, 2, octane dinitrate. See Cavea

Diborane

availability of, 111, 113

boiling point, 114

combustion results, 111–112

diborane-OF2 space storable system, 78

future for, 21, 119, 174

oxidizers and performance of, 114

Dickerson, R. A., 172

Dickinson, L. A., 99

Diethyl dimethyl ammonium nitrate, 137, 139

Diethyl zinc as starting slug, 6, 97

Diethylcyclohexane, 96

Diethylene triamine, hydrazine plus, 39, 40

Difluoramine, 74

Diisopropenyl acetylene, 122

Diisopropyl amine (Isolde)

detonation, 150

performance tests, 136

WFNA plus, 130–132

Dimethyldiisopropyl ammonium nitrate, “quick mix” detonation, 151–152

Dimethyldivinylacetylene, 32

Dimethyl hydrazine, unsymmetrical (UDMH), 37–39, 179

liquid oxygen plus, 97

methylated nitrate, use of, 143

military specifications for, 38

production competition, 38–39

RFNA plus, 174

Russian use of, 106, 108, 109

Dimethyl mercury for hybrids, 162

Dinitrogentetrafluoride

boiling point, 74

handling and characteristics, 75

potential uses, 76

synthesis, 74

theoretical performance, 74–75

Dipropargyl, 26

“Dithekites,” 123, 125

Dow Chemical Company research, 39, 153, 154, 158

Doyle, Bill, 100

Drop weight test, 149

Dunn, Louis, 122

Dunning, 46

Du Pont Chemical Company research, 49, 74, 157

Dwiggins, 36

Dwyer, R. F., 99

Dyer, G. M., 61

E

Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), research at, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118

Electrical conductivity reactions, use of, 46–48, 76–77

Elverum, G. W., 52

Engineering Experiment Station, U.S. Navy (EES), 19, 125

Englebrecht, 72, 73

Enterprise (ship), 83

ERDE. See Explosives Research and Development Establishment, Waltham Abbey, England (ERDE) research

Ergols, research on, 11, 12

Esnault-Pelterie, Robert, 3, 6, 14

Esso Research and Development work, 153, 154

Ethane, 174

Ethanol, use of, 6, 94, 170

Ethers. See specific compound

Ethyl silicate, heat flux and, 96

Ethyl trimethyl ammonium nitrate, 137, 139

Ethylene diamines, 105

Ethylene dihydrazine, 39–40

Ethylene oxide, 23, 122

Experiment Incorporated, 122

“Exploration of Space with Reactive Devices” (Tsiolkovsky), 1

Explosives Research and Development Establishment, Waltham Abbey, England (ERDE) research

hydrogen peroxide, 62

monopropellants, 123–124

propyl nitrate, 121

F

Faraday, Michael, 2

Farben (I.G.) research, 12, 105

Ferric oxide as hydrogen fuel catalyst, 98

Firth, 158

“Florox,” 80

Flow ratio of oxidizer to fuel (O/F), 3, 179

Flox

defined, 177

performance, 102

in RP motor, 102

Fluorides, NF monopropellant studies, 153–158. See also specific compound

Fluorine

boranes and, 112

gelling compounds, 165–166

H-Li-F system, 101, 171–172, 174

isolation of, 2

liquid, 2; development of motors for, 99–102; early work on, 100; handling, 101; for long-range ballistic missiles, 21; performance with additives, 30

liquid oxygen plus liquid. See Flox

nature of compounds, 65–66

ozone plus, 104

pentaborane plus, 114

performance and, 90, 91, 101

See also specific compound

Fluorine nitrate, 65

Fluorine perchlorate, 72–73

Fluorosulfonic acid, WFNA freezing point and, 45

Forbes, Forrest (“Woody”), 80

Forman, 15, 18

Forrestal Laboratories, Princeton University, research by, 103, 122, 134n

Foster, 23

Fox, Homer, 32–33, 136, 138

Fox, W. B., 76, 77

Frank, 50, 52, 158

Fredericks, F., 35

Frozen equilibrium calculation of exhaust velocity, 84, 86, 88

Fuels

code names for, 11

fuel to oxidizer ratio, 3, 179

See also specific chemical and/or fuel

Fuming nitric acid (SFNA)

development of, 52

freezing point, 54; nitric oxide and, 48–50

stability, 179

See also Red fuming nitric acid (RFNA); White fuming nitric acid (WFNA)

Furans, 26

Furfural, RFNA plus, 23

Furfuryl alcohol, 12, 18

aniline plus, 18

fuming nitric acids and, 22

G

Gall, John, 72, 138, 140, 141

Gardner, Dave, 152

Gases, history of liquefaction of, 2, 3

Gaskins, Fred, 165

Gasoline

additives, 23; liquid oxygen, 17; propellant efficiency and, 18; RFNA, 16; Russian studies, 105–106

history of use, 4–5, 6, 12

for long-range ballistic missiles, 21

Gaynor, A. J., 104

General Chemical Company, 52, 53

General Electric Company (GE) research, 96

boranes, 111

hybrid propellants, 159–160

hydrogen peroxide, 61

monopropellants, 150

motor testing, 132, 136

Project Hermes, 111, 159–160

X-430 motor, 102

German ballistic missile (A-4)

design and development, 9

limitations, 10 precursors, 4

propellants, 94, 120; range and, 13–14

Glassman, Irving, 134n

Globus, R. H., 166

Glocking, I., 169

Glushko, V. P., 5, 6

Goddard, Robert H., 3, 5n, 17

Goering, Hermann, 10

Gordon, Jack, 34, 53, 69

Gould, Jack, 111, 135, 153, 154

Graefe, A. F., 139

Grant, 122

Greenfield, S. P., 56

Greenwood, R. W., 43–44, 53–54

Grelecki, 170

Griffin, Don, 25, 149

Grosse, 31

Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) research, 8, 15

Gunderloy, F. C., 118, 170

H

Haberman, 116

Haley, Andrew, 18

“Halox,” 80

Happell, 31

“Hard start,” defined, 11

Harris, 48

Harshaw Chemical Company, 66

Hashman, Sam, 80

Hawkins, A. W., 157

Hawthorne, H. F., 146

Heller, 13

Hemesath, Hermann, 12

Herrickes, Joe, 149

Heterogeneous propellants, 14, 170–172

Hill, 34

Hiller, 98

Hirschfelder, J. O., 16

Hogsett, J. N., 118

Holzmann, Dick, 79, 113n, 116, 169, 170

Hornstein, Bernard, 56

Horvitz, Dave, 22, 35, 36, 37, 164

Hottel, 86

Hough, 145

Hughes, Ronald, 46, 113n

Hughes Tool Company research, 132, 139, 150

Hybalines, 118

Hybrid propellants, 159–172

“arcogels” for, 162

basic mechanism of combustion, 161–162

combustion problems, 168–169, 170

dimethyl mercury as, 162

fuel-oxidizer recommendations, 160–162

heterogeneous monopropellants, 170–172

high-density system, 106–107, 162–163ff.

Li-F-H system, 101–102, 171–172, 174

metals and high-density fuels, 162–164

origin of concept, 159

storage problems, 167–168, 170

thixotropic propellants, 165–170. See also Thixotropic propellants

tripropellant systems, 171

UTC power plan and, 162

Hydrazine(s), 34–40

advantages of, 34

aluminum and, 167–168

beryllium hydride and, 169

boranes and, 146–148

chlorine pentafluoride plus, 91–92

chlorine trifluoride plus, 67, 68, 69–71

decomposition reactions, 122–123, 167–168

development of, 57

dimethyl. See Dimethyl hydrazine, unsymmetrical (UDMH)

freezing point, 34, 118, 124

gelled, 165, 166–168

hydrazine hydrate conversion to, 22

hydrazine nitrate and, 36, 39, 124, 124n

hydrogen peroxide and, 61

liquid fluorine and, 100, 101

liquid oxygen and, 97

metals with, 170–171

monomethyl. See Monomethyl hydrazine (MMH)

as monopropellants, 122, 124, 124n, 146–148

pentaborane and, 115, 117

perhydrodecaborate ion and, 147–148

problems with, 22, 34; restart, 122

Russian use of, 106, 107–109

storability of, 22

types of mixed fuels available, 39–40

usefulness of, 174

for X-15, 94

Hydrazine hydrate, 10, 22

Hydrazine nitrate

chlorine trifluoride plus, 69–70

as hydrazine additive, 36, 39, 124, 124n

metals with, 170–171

Hydrazine perchlorate, 36, 70

Hydrazinium borohydride, 117

Hydrazoid N, 39, 69

Hydrazoid P, 70

Hydrocarbons

oxygen plus, performance and, 91

in space storable systems, 78

See also specific compound

Hydrocyanic acid, hydrazine plus, 35

Hydrogen

classification as energy conductor, 90

liquid, 97, 98; acetylene plus, 134n; Be-O-H system, 171; boiling point, 97; catalysts for, 98; handling, 99; history of, 1, 2; Li-F-H system, 101–102, 171–172, 174; liquid fluorine plus, 102, 174; for long-range ballistic missiles, 21; motors for, 99; oxygen plus, 174; production of, 97; two forms of molecule, 98

slurried (“slush”), described, 99

Hydrogen fluoride

estimation methods, 55

inhibition of corrosion by, 53–54, 58

specifications for in fuming nitric acid, 55

WFNA and, 55–56

Hydrogen peroxide, 9, 10, 13, 15, 59–64

ammonium nitrate plus, 62

as auxiliary power source, 62, 113

boranes and, 111

corrosiveness of, 62

decomposition with heat evolution, 59–60, 63

early studies, 7, 9, 10, 120

freezing point, 21, 59, 61–62

in hybrid rockets, 159–160

as jet propellant, 62–64

as monopropellant, 7, 120–121, 123

pentaborane plus, 113–114

problem of system ignition, 62

propyl nitrate plus, 123

Russian work with, 106

stabilizers, 60

as torpedo propellant, 121

usefulness of, 174

Hydrogen trifluoride, 67–67

Hydyne, 39, 97

Hypergolicity, 6, 12, 13

defined, 11

experiments with, 6, 12, 20–40

speed for, 11

See also under specific compound

I

Ignition delay

testing, 24–25

water plus WFNA and, 45–48

Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (IITRI)

monopropellant work, 155

ozone research, 102, 103, 104

Imperial Chemical Industries, 153

Infrared absorption band for water determination in WFNA, 45

Ingold, C. K., 46, 50

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), 56. See also specific missile

Inyokern. See Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) research

Iodine compounds and hydrazine restarts, 123

IRFNA. See Red fuming nitric acid (RFNA): inhibited

Iridium, hydrazine restarts and, 122

Iron compounds as catalysts, 13

Isolde. See Diisopropyl amine (Isolde)

Isopropanol, liquid oxygen plus, 94

J

J-2, 99, 174

Jackson, 116

Jet assisted take-off (JATO)

defined, 8, 178

first use, 16

importance, 10

production, 15

project origin, 8

propellants for, 15–17, 19, 21

Jet propellant. See JP (jet propellant)

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL) research, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 48n, 49, 50, 52–53

analysis of RFNA, 41–42

boranes, 111, 114 halogen fluoride, 66

hydrogen peroxide, 61

ignition delay, 25, 35

JATO, 17, 18–19

liquid fluorine, 100

monopropellants, 122, 123, 124, 125, 149, 150

oxygen: alcohol plus, 94; ammonia plus, 95

space storable systems, 78

Johnson, H. L., 97

JP (jet propellant), 28ff.

defined, 178

JP-1, 28

JP-2, 28

JP-3, 28

JP-4: additives for, 32, 34–40; described, 28; oxygen plus, 95, 97; specifications for, 95

JP-5, 28

JP-6, 28

specifications for, 27–28, 95

See also specific compound

JPL. See Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL) research

Juno-1, 97

Jupiter, 95, 97

K

Kapitza, Peter, 107

Kaplan, 22

Kay, 52

Kellogg (M. W.) Company research, 21, 23, 61

Kennedy, 74, 76

Kerosene

derivatives and additives for jets, 28

history of use, 6

for long-range ballistic missiles, 21

Russian use, 107, 108

Kilner, Scott, 100

Kinetic programs in exhaust velocity calculation, 88

King, Spencer, 139, 146

L

Lambda, defined, 178

Lance missile, 56

Lang, Fritz, 3

LAR missile, 36

Lark motor, 23

L’Astronautique (Esnault-Pelterie), 3

Laurie, 125

Lawless, Ed, 113n

Lawrence, Lovell, 17

Lawton, Emil, 76, 78–79, 80

Lemmon, 21

Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory NACA (LFPL) research, 44, 49

Ley, Willy, 5, 6

d-Limonene, WFNA and, 23

Linde, 2

Liquid gun propellants, 124n

Liquid oxygen. See Lox (liquid oxygen)

Liquid Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (LRPL) research, 150, 151, 152, 178

Liquid strand burner, defined, 126n

Liquefaction of gases, history of, 2, 3

“Lithergols,” 15

Lithium: Li-F-H system, 172, 174

Lithium borohydride, hydrazine plus, 35, 117

Lithium hydride grains for hybrids, 160, 162

Long-range ballistic missiles, 21. See also specific missile

Love, 116

Lox (liquid oxygen), 94, 97

alcohols and, 20, 107

ammonia and, 95

Be-O-H system, 171

boiling point, 103

boranes and, 111

gasoline and, for JATO, 17

history of, 1–2, 4, 6

hydrazines and, 97

JP plus, 95

liquid hydrogen and, 98, 174

liquid methane and, 134

motor starting slugs, 97

ozone and, 103–104

RP-I and, 96

use of, 94, 108, 174; as A-4 oxidizer, 10; for long-range ballistic missiles, 21; for nitromethane starts, 125

See also Flox

Lunar landers, 174

Lutz, Otto, 10

M

Maas, 61

Machinist, Roger, 127, 130

Mackenzie, J. S., 76

Madoff, 96

MAF-3, 39

Makepeace, G. R., 49, 61

Malina, Frank, 8, 15–16, 18

Manhattan Project, 66

Marancic, W. G., 103

Marsel, 31

Martin, 125

Mason, Dave, 48n, 52, 55

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 61, 62

Maya, Walter, 76, 78

McBride, 39

McClellan, 143

McElroy, 145

McGonnigle, T. J., 50, 133, 137n

McGregor, Don, 80

McKinney, Dana, 165, 172

McNamara, Patrick, 117

Mead, Al, 149

Mercaptans, 26–27, 29, 30, 105. See also specific compound

Mercury in high-density fuels, 162–163

Messerschmitt interceptors, 10

Metallectro Company research, 34, 36, 37, 38

Methane

liquid oxygen plus liquid, 134

OF2 plus as space storable system, 78

usefulness of, 5, 174

Methane sulfonic acid, WFNA and, 44, 48

Methanol

as A-4 fuel, 9, 10

hydrazine plus, 35

methyl nitrate plus, 123

nitric acids and, 10–11

nitrogen tetroxide and, 8

oxygen plus, 20, 94

Methyl acetylenes, 122

Methyl nitrate plus methanol, 123

Methylal plus liquid oxygen, 94

Methylamine, 124

ammonia plus, 23, 95

aniline-hydrazine system plus, 36

oxygen-ammonia system plus, 95

MHF, 39, 70

M-I motor, 99n

Midwest Research Institute, 132, 170

Miller, R. O., 44, 52

Minnesota Mining and Minerals, 153, 158

MMH. See Monomethyl hydrazine (MMH)

Mobley, Sparge, 141, 144, 147

Mock, Jean, 79

Mohr, 34

Moisson, 2

Mollier charts in exhaust velocity calculation, 86

Monergals. See Monopropellant(s); and specific compound

“Monex,” 170

Monoethylaniline, 19

Monomethyl hydrazine (MMH)

chlorine trifluoride and, 68–69

decaborane and, 146

hydrazine and, 38, 39, 68–69

perchloryl fluoride and, 73

specifications for, 39

Monopropellant(s), 120–158

background of, 7–8

burning rate determination, 126n

defined, 7

detonation propagation and testing, 150–151

future of, 174

for guns, 124n

heterogeneous, 170–172

instability of, 148

low- vs. high-energy, 120

“quick mix” detonation concept, 151–152

for ram rockets, 30

Russian work on, 107

test methods, 149–150

wartime experiments with, 14–15, 19

See also specific compound

Moody, H. R., 15

MS-10, 12–13

Mueller, Heinz, 10, 11, 12, 14

Mullaney, 96

Myers, 158

“Myrol,” 14

N

NAA. See North American Aviation (NAA) research

Nagai, C. K., 172

NALAR, 56–58

NARTS. See Naval Air Rocket Test Station (NARTS) research

“NARTS Method of Performance Calculation,” 86

National Advisory Council on Aeronautics (NACA), 67, 178

National Aeronautical And Space Administration (NASA), 78, 111, 114

Naval Air Rocket Test Station (NARTS) research, 24, 26, 34, 36, 37, 46–47, 53, 148

chlorine trifluoride, 67, 68–71

hybrids, 162–164

hydrogen peroxide, 62–64

hydrogen trifluoride, 70

hypergolicity and ignition, 24

liquid oxygen and alcohol, 94

monopropellants, 125–132, 135–138, 139, 140–145, 148, 148–149, 150

perchloryl fluoride, 72–73

Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL)

card-gap test, 149

propellant research, 36

Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) research, 34, 36, 39, 50, 80

hybrids, 161, 164, 167

hydrogen peroxide, 61–62

monopropellants, 124

Naval Underwater Ordnance Station (NUOS), 179

Neff, J., 139

“Neofuel,” 125

New York University (NYU), 29, 31, 105

Niederhauser, W. D., 75, 153

Nike Ajax missile, 38

Nitrate salts

of amines: monopropellant research with, 125–132, 132–133, 134, 136–139, 140–144; structure sensitivity relations, 137n

of boron, 139

methyl amine plus, 124

of methylated UDMH, 143

Nitric acid(s), 13, 23

additive acid determinations, 48

amine nitrate plus, 125–131, 132–133, 134, 136–139, 140–145

boron plus, 139

classification of behavior of, 50–52

code names for, 11

corrosion inhibitors, 106

decomposition reaction, 52

freezing point, 21

fuming. See Fuming nitric acid (SFNA); Red fuming nitric acid (RFNA); White fuming nitric acid (WFNA)

gelling, 165

hypergolic reactions, 26

for jets, 28

maximum density, 56

methanol plus, 10

problems with, 106–107

specifications for, 107

Nitric oxide, 49–50

Nitrites, stability in acids, 51

Nitrobenzene plus tetranitromethane, 135

Nitroethane, WFNA plus, 125

Nitrogen

fluorine compounds, 65, 155–158; oxidetrifluoride, 76–78; trifluoride, 73n, 74n, 75

mixed oxides, 49–50

Nitrogen oxidetrifluoride (nitrosyl trifluoride; trifluoroamine oxide), 76–78

Nitrogen tetroxide, 5, 8

freezing point, 21

-nitric acid system, 49

Nitrogen trifluoride

boiling point, 75n

chemistry, 75

nitrogen oxidetrifluoride, 76–78

synthesis, 74n

Nitroglycerine, 7

Nitromethane, 7

as monopropellant, 19, 125

WFNA freezing point and, 44

Nitrosyl sulfuric acid, WFNA and, 44

Nitrous oxide

advantages and disadvantages, 43

as freezing point depressant, 49

as monopropellant, 15

Nitryl fluoride, 78

Noeggerath, Wolfgang C., 10, 11, 12, 13, 106

NOL. See Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL)

Nomad motor, 101

Noordung, Hermann (Captain Potocnik), 5

North American Aviation (NAA) research, 21, 34, 35, 45, 49

chlorine trifluoride, 67

liquid fluorine motor, 100

Lox-alcohol system, 94

NALAR, 56–58

NOTS. See Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) research

“Notsgel,” 167

Nuclear rockets, 99–100, 173

Nyberg, D. G., 164

O

Oberth, Herman, 3, 5, 15, 159

O/F, 2, 179

Office of Naval Research (ONR), 100–101

Oja, Phyllis, 138

Olefins, NF and, 153

Olin Mathieson Company, 71

borane research, 112

drop weight tester, 149

Olszewski, K. S., 2

“Optolin,” 13

Ordian, 111

Ordin, 102, 112

Orthotoluide, 18

Oxidizers

missile type and, 56

O/F ratio, 3, 179

research in storable, 15–16

See also Hybrid propellants; Monopropellant(s); and specific compound

Oxygen

equilibrium pressure and WFNA, 52

history of use, 6

liquid. See Lox (liquid oxygen)

liquid fluorine plus liquid. See Flox

motor heat generation and, 96–97

performance and, 91, 92, 96

Oxygen fluorides, 65, 66, 78

Ozone, 7

described, 102

fluorine plus, 104

oxygen plus, 102–104, 108

problems with, 102–104

P

Parsons, John W., 8, 15, 18, 110–111

Paulet, Pedro A., 5n

Pennsalt research, 5, 6

monopropellants, 132, 140, 152–153

perchloryl fluoride, 73

Pentaborane, 22

alkyls, 112, 113

availability of, 114

combustion results, 111–112

future for, 119, 174

hydrazines plus, 116, 117

for long-range ballistic missiles, 21

performance, 114, 116

problems with, 116

Perchloric acid, 44, 71

Perchloryl fluoride

discovery, 72

mixtures as monopropellant, 133

performance and, 92

research on, 72–73, 108

synthesis of, 72–73

usefulness of, 174

Performance, 82–93

absolute limits of, 173

calculation: BN method, 87; computers and, 87, 88, 157; exhaust velocity, 83–86; graphic methods, 86–87; hand methods, 83–86; kinetic programs in, 88; Mollier charts, 86; NQD method, 87; specific impulse, 157

defined, 82–83

nuclear rockets and, 173–174

propellant combination choice for, 89–93, 174

propellant density related to range, 106n

specific impulse: calculation, 157; reporting, 88–89

thrust vs. power as measure of, 82–83

See also specific compound

Perhydrodecaborate ion plus hydrazine, 147

Peroxide. See Hydrogen peroxide

PF. See Perchloryl fluoride

Phillips Petroleum Company research, 105

jet propellants, 29, 32–34

monopropellants, 132, 133, 136, 138

Phoebus motors, 100

Phosphates, hydrogen peroxide and, 60

Phosphorus derivatives as jet propellants, 29–30

Pilipovich, Donald, 76

Pisani, Joe, 132–133, 134

Platz, G. M., 103

Polyacetylenics. See specific compound

Polyamines, 32. See also specific compound

Polyethylene, RFNA plus, 170

Pomerantz, Phil, 162, 163

Potassium cuprocyanide as catalyst, 10

Potassium nitrate, WFNA and, 44

Power, as rocketry concept, 82

Propane, 174

Propellants. See Hybrid propellants; Monopropellant(s); and specific compound

Propyl nitrate, 121–122, 123

Propyne, 32

Pyridinium nitrate, WFNA plus, 125, 126–127, 129

Pyrimidines as additives, 23. See also specific compound

R

Ram rockets, 30

described, 30

ethylene oxide fuel, 122

jelled fuel for, 166

pentaborane-hydrazine system for, 116–118

Rand Corporation, 21

Range, Grete, 13

Rapp, Lou, 25–26, 30, 95, 147, 148

Rau, Eric, 53

Reaction Motors, Inc. (RMI) research, 21, 23, 32, 35, 24n, 179

boranes, 111, 112–114–115, 116

borohydrides, 117

chlorine trifluoride, 68, 69

heat flux, 96

hybrid propellants, 161, 164, 166, 170–171

hydrazines, 117

hydrogen peroxide, 120–121

ignition delay, 25

JATO, 17

liquid oxygen, 94, 97

monopropellants, 120–121, 132, 133, 150, 153

space storable systems, 78

X-15, 95

Red fuming nitric acid (RFNA), 15–16

additive experiments, 22–23

amines and, 34

ammonia and, 23

aniline and, 16, 17, 22

boron carbide and, 170

changes in, on holding, 41–42

corrosive quality, 41

dangers of, 42

decompression pressure control, 52

defined, 6, 54–55

disadvantages, 41–42

freezing point control, 52, 54

furfuryl alcohol and, 22

improvements in handling, 50

inhibited: rocket grades, 108; Russian use, 107, 108

introduction of, 6

JATO and, 16, 17

military specifications for, 54–55

mixed acid as alternative to, 42–43

MMH-perchloryl fluoride system and, 73

polyethylene suspended in, 170

research on composition of, 17

sample holder in loss prevention, 48

titanium and, 54

UDMH and, 174

water content determination, 48n

Redstone missile, 94

Reinhardt, Tom, 68, 72, 87

RFNA. See Red fuming nitric acid (RFNA)

Rice, Tom, 125, 126

Riedel, Klaus, 6

Rittenhouse, J. B., 54

RMI. See Reaction Motors, Inc. (RMI) research

Roberts, 49

Rocker, W. W., 49

Rocket into Planetary Space, The (Oberth), 3

Rocket Research Company, 170

Rocketdyne research, 76, 77, 79–81

boranes, 116

Compound A, 78–79

diethylcyclohexane, 96

“Florox,” 80

hybrid propellants, 166, 169, 170, 171, 171–172

linear polymer beryllium, 118

liquid fluorine, 102

monopropellants, 150, 153

Nomad motor, 101

solid propellants, 79

space storable systems, 78

Rocket-on-rotor (ROR), 120–121, 179

Rohm and Haas research

hybrid propellants, 160–161

monopropellants, 146, 153

oxidizers, 74, 75

Rosenberg, 117, 169

Rowe, 111

RP-I, 28

Lox motor: liquid fluorine and, 102; performance, 96; use of, 97

specifications for, 96

usefulness of, 96, 97, 174

Ruff, Otto, 66

Russian research, 105–109

S

SA-2 (Guideline) missile, 106

Sage, B. H., 50

Samarium oxide, 120

Sander, Friedrich Wilhelm, 5

Sänger, Eugen, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 97, 102

Satterfield, 86

Saturn V, 83, 96, 174

Schechter, W. H., 44, 49

Scheer, Milton, 24, 53

Schirmer, 50, 52

Schlesinger, H. I., 110

Schmitz, 73n

Schulz, H. W., 118

Schumacher, 73n

Semishin, V. I., 34

SFNA. See Fuming nitric acid (SFNA); Red fuming nitric acid (RFNA); White fuming nitric acid (WFNA)

Sheehan, Dave, 79

Shell Development Company, 29, 30, 122

Shesta, John, 17

Shifting equilibrium calculation of exhaust velocity, 85, 88

Short-range missile propellants, 174

Sidgwick, 134

Silanes, 26

Silica in propellant gelling, 165

Silicone as fuel additive, 96

Silverman, 96

Skolnik, 50

Smith, Ivan, 113n

Smith, Joe, 80

Sodium borohydride, 117

Sodium nitrite, WFNA and, 44

Sodium perchlorate monohydrate, 37

Sodium selenide, 13

Solomon, I. J., 154

Solomon, W. C., 158

Southern Research Institute, 45

Space storable propellants, 50, 56, 74, 75–78, 174

Space travel

motors for, 56, 77–78

propellants for, 56, 174; dinitrogentetrafluoride, 76; MON-10, 50

Specific impulse of propulsion, 89, 157

Sprague, 50

Sputnik I, 75

SS-missiles, 107–108

Standard Oil of California research, 26–27, 39, 44–45, 105, 106

Standard Oil of Indiana research, 29–30, 44

Stanford Research Institute, 99

Stannates, hydrogen peroxide and, 60

Stauffer Chemical Company research, 74, 135, 153, 155

Stiff, 16

Stock, Alfred, 110

Storable propellants

need for, 9–10

research on, 21–22

for space travel, 50, 56, 75, 76–78, 174

Strategic missiles, 56

Streim, Howard, 24

Sulfides, organic, 105

Sulfonic acids, WFNA and, 44

Sulfuric acids, nitric acids and, 42–43, 106

Summerfield, 18

Summers, R. W., 157

Super-P project, 62–64

Surface-to-air missiles (SAM), 19, 91, 106

Surface-to-surface missiles, 19

Syracuse University, 34, 37

Szoke, John, 132

T

Tactical missiles, 56, 174

“Taifun” missile, 12

Tait, Charles, 134–135, 144

Tannenbaum, Stan, 68, 69, 117, 133–134

Target drone, 162

Tarpley, Bill, 165, 172

Taylor, A. G., 103

Terlizzi, Paul, 24, 126

Tertiary amines, 32–33

Tetraalkyl ethylene diamines, 105

Tetra-allyl silane, 26

“Tetrakis,” 158

Tetramethyl tetrazine, 39

Tetranitromethane (TNM)

advantages and disadvantages, 13

early use, 6

as monopropellant, 135

Thackerey, J. D., 125

Thermal efficiency of rockets, 7

Thermal stability tester, 149

Thiophosphates for jets, 29–30

Thixotropic propellants, 165–170

fire hazards and, 165n

heterogeneous, 170–172

leakage hazards and, 164–165

metallized, 166–167; problems with, 167–170

production of, 165

propellant sloshing and, 166

restart inability, 169

shelf life of metallized, 167

storage problems, 167–170

Thomas, D. D., 35

Thompson, R. J., 23

Thompson, T. L., 49, 54

Thompson Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation (TRW), 78

Thor Able rocket, 55n

Thor rocket, 95

Titan I ICBM, 96

Titan II ICBM

development, 50

propellant, 39, 56, 96, 174

Titanium, RFNA and, 54

Toluene, 6

Toluidine, 12

Tonka

composition of, 11, 12

defined, 179

importance of, 20

Russian use of, 106

Torpedo propellants, 106, 121

“Tribrid,” 171

Triethyl aluminum for motor starts, 97

Triethylamine, 12

Triethylenediamine, diamine oxide plus nitric acid, 145

“Triflox,” 80

Trimethylammonium nitrate, 126, 129, 137, 138, 139

2, 4, 6,-Trinitrophenol, WFNA and, 44

Truax, Robert C., 16, 19, 94–95

Tsander, F. A., 4, 7, 14

Tsien, Hus Shen, 8

Tsiolkovsky, Konstantin Eduardovitch, 1, 2, 5n, 97

Tuffly, Bartholomew, 76

Tunkel, Steve, 161

Turpentine

hypergolicity of, 18

as propellant, 18, 23

spontaneous ignition of, 11

U

U-DETA, 39

UDMH. See Dimethyl hydrazine, unsymmetrical (UDMH)

UFA

defined, 179

for hybrids, 159

Union Carbide Company research, 99, 118

United Technology Corporation (UTC) research, 160, 161–162, 179

University of Texas, 26

Urey, H., 98

V

V-2. See German ballistic missile (A-4)

Vandercook, N., 76

Vanguard rocket, 55n, 96

Verein fur Raumschiffart (VfR), 3, 5–6, 179

Viking rocket, 94

Vinyl ethers, 12, 105. See also Visol(s)

Visol(s)

composition and properties, 12, 179

German research in, 12

importance of, 20

Russian research in, 105

Von Braun, Wernher, 6, 9, 20, 120

Von Kármán, Theodore, 8, 15, 18

Von Zborowski, Helmut Philip, 10, 11

W

WAC Corporal, 22

Wahrmke, 14

Walker, 37

Walsh, Mike, 140, 150

Walter, Helmuth, 7, 9, 10

Walter Type fuels, 9, 10, 13

Wasserfall SAM, 13

Water

hydrazine freezing point and, 34

in RFNA, method of determination, 48n

in WFNA: ignition delay and, 45–48; measurement of, 45–47

Westvaco Clor-Alkali (FMC), 38–39

Wharton, Walt, 155, 157, 158

White, E. L., 103

White, L., 48

White fuming nitric acid (WFNA), 18, 22–23, 179

ammonia and, 23

corrosiveness of, 53–54

diisopropyl amine and, 130–131

disadvantages of, 43, 53–54, 106

equilibrium oxygen pressure and, 52

freezing point, 43; depression of, 44–45, 54

furfuryl alcohol and, 22

hydrazine and, 24

ignition delay, 45–47

manufacture of anhydrous, 47

methane sulfonic acid and, 48

military specifications for, 54–55

nitro-alkyls and, 125

pyridinium nitrate and, 125, 126–127, 129

sulfuric acid and, as alternative to RFNA, 42–43

trimethylammonium nitrate and, 126, 129, 137

water in: ignition delay and, 45–48; measurement of, 45–48

Whittaker, A. G., 50, 126n

Williams, 86

Wilson, Dick, 79, 118

Winkler, Johannes, 5, 78

Winternitz, Paul, 94, 95, 96, 111

Wiseman, 61

Wisniewski, L. V., 62

Wittorf, 49

Woman on the Moon, The (film by Lang), 3

Wright Air Development Center (WADC), 179

Wroblewski, Z. F., 2

Wyandotte Chemical Company monopropellant research, 121, 122, 132, 134–135, 144–145, 149, 150

Wyld, James, 17

X

X-1 supersonic plane, 94

X-15 supersonic plane, 94–95

X-430 motor, 102

Xylidines, 12, 18. See also Tonka

Y

Yates, R. E., 139

Young, 118

Z

Zborowski, 18

Zinc alkyls, 26

Zletz, A., 44

Zollinger, 158

Zwicky, Fritz, 125