Matt, I agree, a Nitrous Oxide engine is much safer/easier for someone looking to get into liquid rocketry.
I successfully built a very simple NOS/Diesel engine about 2 years ago. The ISP sucked, but the pressurized NOS tank meant I only needed to pressurize the diesel tank, instead of both. In the end, the engine worked (smelled though :). It was my own stupidity and ignorance that lead me to believe that H2O2 Mono-prop engines were easier/safer to design and use than my first liquid engines, but had it not been for that stupidity/ignorance, I would not be pulling my hair out on a daily basis trying to distill usable H2O2 and constantly getting chemical burns. :) Rocketry is not unlike anything else one would do in their life. Start small and simple, learn as you go, watch as some of your hard work blows up, and move forward. I like to believe that the K.I.S.S. acronym stands for the standard: Keep It Simple Stupid I've made the mistake of designing beyond my current knowledge and abilities. In short... H2O2 Mono-Prop engines are generally safer to use than say LOX/Kerosene engines, but you still need an in depth working knowledge of liquid (and model) rocketry. Don't blow yourself up! With that, have fun. I remember how it was in the beginning... All those dreams and endless confidence... Ahh, to be naive :) Sean As others have pointed out, it is currently ERPS's policy not to distribute explicit details of how to do it. That said, I would advise staying away from peroxide for your rocket, for the simple reason that it's seriously hazardous and an all around pain in the ass. To give you an example, even with ERPS's experience with peroxide, those handling the propellant and related gear almost always get at least a few peroxide burns on their hands. For what you appear to want to do, I would suggest looking into nitrous oxide. It's trivial to get, relatively cheap, and by and large devoid of dangerously unpleasant habits. There is also a substantial amount of literature aimed at amateur use of it, both in hybrid and bipropellant liquid motors. Several manufacturers sell nitrous/polyethylene hybrid motors for hobby use, and they are a popular first step for experimenters. Nitrous also has the enormous advantage of being the only liquid oxidizer allowed at Tripoli launches. Working with that organization will greatly reduce your operational headaches, as well as bringing you into contact with people who have been at this a long time.~ _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
