[AR] Re: pressurization
- From: "John Dom" <johndom@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2016 11:38:52 +0200
On Fri, 22 Apr 2016, Paul Mueller wrote:
Western rockets (or all "dino-space") use/used helium for LOX
pressurization.
Nope, not all. As per previous discussion, it *is* the easiest way, but
it's not the only way. Goddard used nitrogen too. If memory serves, so did
the X-1.
Now I'm curious about Falcon 9 and Ariane V.
The Falcons all use helium. Ariane 5 uses helium for LOX and GH2 for LH2.
I read the Atlas ICBM balloon tanks were kept rigid with bottled nitrogen
while stationed empty in their launch pits (maybe filtered air from a
compressor was only used for the later Atlas museum exhibits).
But was nitrogen also used for tanks pressurization during flight? I suppose
that after the closing the LOX tank valve the GO2 amount boiling off would
be insufficient for pressure control to the pump inlets, or?
jd
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