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#26 2013-12-01 10:52:33

GW Johnson
Member
From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
Posts: 5,423
Website

Re: Martian Rockets

A lot of folks use an igniter that is simple TEB (tri-ethyl borane) or TEA (tri-ethyl aluminum) injection.  No real hardware required,  other than the injector line.  The stuff explodes on contact with air though,  so handling is a bit more stringent than hydrazine,  or even nitric acid. 

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

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#27 2013-12-01 15:51:56

JoshNH4H
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From: Pullman, WA
Registered: 2007-07-15
Posts: 2,538
Website

Re: Martian Rockets

Although, on the plus side we don't need nearly as much of it.  Having said that, wikipedia suggests that the synthesis route is nontrivial and we may want to consider alternatives.  Perhaps NaK (Sodium Potassium-- Highly reactive, of course, and also a liquid at Room Temperature and even a bit below) would be a reasonable choice.  I don't know how much work has been done comparing various types of restartable pyrophoric fluids, of course.  It's even possible that NaK won't be reactive enough.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Martian production methods will make the economics of almost everything different from their economics on Earth, even if only slightly.


-Josh

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