What are storable propellants?

The most common hypergolic fuels, hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, and oxidizer, nitrogen tetroxide, are all liquid at ordinary temperatures and pressures. They are therefore sometimes called storable liquid propellants.

Is space cryogenic?

The Space Launch System currently under development by NASA, for example, also uses cryogenic fuels, and the need to maintain cryogenic fuels and LOX supplies for long duration missions is a principal motivation behind the development of zero boiloff systems.

What is propellant in satellite?

The current standard propellant for satellites is hydrazine-based fuel, which is highly toxic.

How toxic is hypergolic fuel?

Hypergolic fuels derived from hydrazine are highly toxic. Furthermore, contact with hydrazine can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, seizures, organ damage, and blindness, moreover, the materials are currently classed as carcinogenic.

Is rp1 hypergolic?

RP-1 is a special type of kerosene covered by Military Specification MIL-R-25576. In Russia, similar specifications were developed under specifications T-1 and RG-1. Nitrogen tetroxide and nitric acid are hypergolic with hydrazine, MMH and UDMH. Oxygen is not hypergolic with any commonly used fuel.

What are propellants made of?

Composite propellants made from a solid oxidizer such as ammonium perchlorate or ammonium nitrate, a synthetic rubber such as HTPB, PBAN, or Polyurethane (or energetic polymers such as polyglycidyl nitrate or polyvinyl nitrate for extra energy), optional high-explosive fuels (again, for extra energy) such as RDX or …

What are the two types of propellants?

Most liquid chemical rockets use two separate propellants: a fuel and an oxidizer. Typical fuels include kerosene, alcohol, hydrazine and its derivatives, and liquid hydrogen. Many others have been tested and used. Oxidizers include nitric acid, nitrogen tetroxide, liquid oxygen, and liquid fluorine.

Why does SpaceX Merlin engine use RP-1 instead of liquid hydrogen?

RP-1 provides a lower specific impulse than liquid hydrogen (LH2), but is cheaper, is stable at room temperature, and presents a lower explosion hazard. RP-1 is far denser than LH2, giving it a higher energy density (though its specific energy is lower).