New NASA engine - DOC?

[Fat Tone]

This is all over the video sites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPxHXzd4iM0

Allegedly a test of a new NASA rocket engine, Butane powered. It has an amazing looking afterburn (if that is the right phrase).

[High_Jumbllama]

The word would be plume. See definitions 8 & 9.

[Fat Tone]

I don't think so. I'm refering to the pattern within the hot gasses of the exhaust.

Anyway, what's important it what this is and what it is to be used for. Was hoping someone would shed some light on that.

[Fluff]

Like the vortex in a Dyson?

[Marshmallowman]

I think that one was from a while back, and might have actually been a navy test fire as I recall.

[Dr Mordrid]

The geometric shapes in the rocket plume are called "shock diamonds", "Mach diamonds" or "Mach discs", depending on their appearance. They're formed when the supersonic exhaust is over or under expanded, which creates a shock wave in the flow. When the shock wave is reflected at the jet boundary a complex flow field results, forming the geometric pattern.

Not NASA, a company called XCOR Aerospace; a company based at the Mohave Commercial Spaceport (California) and just down the runway a bit from Rutans Scaled Composites (SpaceShipOne/SpaceShipTwo etc.).

Together with ATK (they make the shuttle SRB's) they're developing a methane rocket engine for NASA under contract, though they'll maintain the rights to build it for other companies as well. Lots of interest in this puppy, and for very good reasons.

Many of today's rockets use liquid hydrogen which is tricky to store (leaks out of even the smallest gaps, and even through many materials), requires cryogenic storage at -259C and is very expensive. On the other hand methane does not present storage problems, does not require cryogenics and is very, very cheap. It's also denser than hydrogen, making more out of the limited volume of spacecraft fuel tanks. Another plus is you don't have to put on a HAZMAT suit to hand it

Methane rockets would be very useful for future Earth departure stages, lunar cargo ships and for Mars missions. It could also be manufactured from the Martian atmosphere, with a by-product of oxygen, meaning Mars missions would not have to take their return fuel and much of their 02 with them. All that would be necessary is to launch a lander with a methane generator and a small hydrogen tank (reaction: CO2 + H2 -> CH4 + O2) a year before the astronauts. Before they even left Earth they could confirm their oxygen and return fuel was ready. MUCH better logistics in that smaller rockets could be used at all stages of the mission.

Besides the methane rocket XCOR is also building a nitrous oxide-ethane rocket only 6" long (for RCS's, reaction control systems), a spaceplane called "Xerus" capable of both tourism and launching small satellites into orbit and the rocket-planes for the Rocket Racing League. The nitrous oxide-ethane RCS got a big boost this week because of the spy satellite that had to be shut down. The hydrazine tank it had was fuel for its reaction control system, so replacing that with a non-toxic mix like nitrous oxide-ethane might be a better option.

Combined with companies like Bigelow (private space stations), SpaceX (low-cost launchers & spacecraft) etc. etc. these "NewSpace" companies are revolutionizing the space industry.

The XCOR methane rocket made TIME Magazines list of 100 best inventions of 2007 (Link (PDF)....)

Also in that PDF is MIT's Bio-Suit, a revolutionary spacesuit that uses elastic fibers to provide pressure instead of pressurized gas. Heating/cooling is provided by Kevlar reinforced tubing run between layers of the fabric. This makes for a very lightweight and flexible spacesuit that would be particularly well suited to Mars missions. Lots of people think this is the future of spacesuits.