Xref: utzoo sci.space.shuttle:3900 sci.space:14964
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,sci.space
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Space Shuttle SRB exhaust gas makeup.
Message-ID: <1989Oct24.163114.29924@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <8910231952.AA14411@decwrl.dec.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 89 16:31:14 GMT

In article <8910231952.AA14411@decwrl.dec.com> klaes@wrksys.dec.com (N = R*fgfpneflfifaL  23-Oct-1989 1549) writes:
>        Could someone please post information concerning the exhaust 
>     gases from the Space Shuttle's solid rocket boosters during takeoff.  
>     Does it contain hydrogen oxide? 

I.e., water?  Yes, among other things.  Lots of other things.  SRB fuel,
if I recall correctly, is ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4) plus a dash of
aluminum powder for extra heat, a demitasse of synthetic rubber for
mechanical strength, and an assortment of minor odds and ends to control
burn rate and such.  So the exhaust will contain water, alumina (Al2O3)
particles, carbon dioxide (from the rubber), and a witches' brew of
nitrogen and chlorine compounds and partially burnt ickiness.
-- 
A bit of tolerance is worth a  |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
megabyte of flaming.           | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu