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Journey to Mars:Hybrid Rocketry, Plasma, Interstellar Orbits, and
the Red Planet
Journey to Mars:Hybrid Rocketry, Plasma, Interstellar Orbits, and
the Red Planet By Dr. John Brandenburg,
Folasade Akeloko, Christian Garcia, Jacquelyn Cortes, Kujtime Muzhaku, Taquazha Fair, & Louis Shackelford
AgendaAgenda
• Hybrid Rockets• Everclear 1 Project• Plasma• Astrophysics• Mars
Main Rocket TypesMain Rocket Types
Solid FuelSolid Fuel Liquid FuelLiquid Fuel
(turbo pump fed)(turbo pump fed)
Liquid Fuel Liquid Fuel (pressure fed)(pressure fed)
oxidizer
fuel
pressurant
Turbo pump
Thrustchamber
Solid Fuel RocketsSolid Fuel Rockets
Solid FuelSolid Fuel
•Solid fuel rockets are oldest (China in ~200 AD)
•Simple and reliable
•Inexpensive, easy to Launch
•Part of Space Shuttle Booster
•Cannot be Throttled (stopped and initiated again)
•Inefficient fuel burners
Liquid Fuel (turbo pump)Liquid Fuel (turbo pump)
Liquid FuelLiquid Fuel
(turbo pump fed)(turbo pump fed)
oxidizer
fuel
Thrustchamber
•Most commonly used space launch vehicle
•Highest propulsion power
•Can be throttled
•Require complex systems (stop-valves, injectors, pumping machinery)
•Overall cost and weight are excessive
•Storage/unreliability issues
turbo pump
Hybrid RocketsHybrid Rockets• Hybrid rockets are a combination of solid and liquid fuel
rockets• Gaseous/liquid oxidizer is stored in a tank separate from
a solid fuel grain (simple design)• High Propulsion Power (rivals the power of liquid fuel
rockets)• Burns more efficiently than solid fuel rockets• Can be refueled• Low relative cost and weight compared to Liquid Rockets• Easily throttled• Environmentally safe• Storable and reliable
Everclear 1 ProjectEverclear 1 Project
Improving the performance of Everclear 1
Improving the performance of Everclear 1
• The solid fuel used in the hybrid rocket is an alcohol gel that is extremely viscous.
• In order to improve the performance of the hybrid rocket, the alcohol gel must contain both a concentrated alcohol and a thickener. The thickener will be methyl cellulose.
• The concentrated alcohol will be obtained from a substance called Everclear, which contains 95% alcohol.
• When a concentrated alcohol substance is combined with an
aqueous methyl cellulose solution, a thick alcohol gel will be formed. • The viscosity of the gel determines its regression rate and the life of
the rocket.
What is Methyl Cellulose?What is Methyl Cellulose?
• Methyl cellulose is a white powder that is non-toxic, odorless, and digestible. Its often used as a thickener and emulsifier for popular products such as laxatives, ice cream and in salad dressings.
• When mixed with cold water, methyl cellulose has a high retention rate for water and can absorb several times more water than its own weight.
• An aqueous solution (colorless gel) of methyl cellulose is hardly affected by acids and is not an ionic substance.
• Methyl cellulose can be mixed with almost any substance and not alter its chemical composition while thickening its texture.
What is Sterno?What is Sterno?
• Sterno is an alcohol gel that is extremely viscous. It is often used by chefs for heating foods and is preferred because the gas produced from the burning alcohol is nonpoisonous.
• Sterno is made by combining an alcohol with a thickener.• Several forms of sterno can be created using different types
of alcohols and thickeners.
The Future of Hybrid Rockets: Everclear 1
The Future of Hybrid Rockets: Everclear 1
• Combining alcohol gels and liquid fuels in hybrid rockets extends rocket life.
• A rocket could be stopped in mid-air.
• The speed of a hybrid rocket can be controlled by changing the rate at which the liquid fuel is released into the rocket.
Hybrid Rocket EngineHybrid Rocket Engine
OxidizerOxidizer
Fuel GainFuel Gain
Injector
ValveValveNozzleNozzle
IgnitionIgnition HoleHole
Everclear 1Everclear 1
ExhaustExhaust
Hybrid Rocket Engine TestHybrid Rocket Engine Test
Hybrid Engine Test cont.Hybrid Engine Test cont.
Everclear Rocket Design v1Everclear Rocket Design v1
Everclear Rocket Design v1Everclear Rocket Design v1
Layout1.) Small No2 Capsules
2.) Rubber Washer
3.) Ball Needle
4.) Thermal Valve
a.) Plastic Sealant
b.) Steel wire with match head
5.) Fuel tube
Everclear Rocket Design v1Everclear Rocket Design v1
Pros
• Small and light• Availability of materials• Cheap
Cons
• hard to handle• Non modular• A lot of mechnical work
Why it failed
• Tough seal
• Weak needle
• Gas leaks
• Match does not ignite
Everclear Rocket Design v2Everclear Rocket Design v2
Everclear Rocket Design v2Everclear Rocket Design v2
Layout1.) CO2 Tank
2.) Valve
3.) Tube
4.) Thermal Valve
a.) Plastic Sealant
b.) steel wire with match head
5.) Fuel tube
Everclear Rocket Design v2Everclear Rocket Design v2
Pros
• Modular• No puncturing• controllable
Cons
• Heavy• Pressure limit (temporary)
Why it failed
• Thermal valve
PlasmaPlasma
• 4th state of matter• Energy causes
electrons to separate from the atom
• Electrons can move freely
• Ionized/charged gas• 99% of universe
Ball LightningBall Lightning• A natural sphere that
floats and glows for only seconds
• Unknown as to how it forms
• Theory: form of plasma• A ball lightning effect
can be made at home in a microwave oven
Vacuum ChamberVacuum Chamber
• Decreases air pressure to increase plasma• Nitrogen gives plasma its purple color when
excited.• Electricity is the energy that helps create
plasma. • It increases the current of electrons to such an
extent that they knock off another electron in an atom. This “knocking off of an electron” is when we actually see the plasma.
Uses/Purpose of PlasmaUses/Purpose of Plasma• Dr. John Brandenburg is
working on creating plasma for the Air Force.
• Plasma can be used as a “force field” for satellites as protection from radiation.
• People who are not happy about satellites watching and orbiting the earth send these beams of radiation.
• A satellite would have to in turn be shut off to avoid damage.
AstrophysicsAstrophysics
Branch of astronomy in which physics is applied to observe properties of the universe:
• star life and formation • movement and chemical composition of celestial objects • history of the universe…
Life of a StarLife of a Star
• Nebula spins and condenses to form a star
• Fusion powers the star by converting its abundance of hydrogen into helium…
• When fuel is all burned the star grows through a process of death with a dim or explosive end
Process of Death Process of Death • Blue dwarfs burn fuel
extremely fast and have a violent end to their life
• Red giants burn their fuel slowly and have a long lifespan
• Main sequence stars eventually swell up to form supergiants and eventually dim to white dwarf level
• Rare occurrence the stars create blackholes or neutron stars
ConclusionConclusion• Hybrid Rockets are the future of the rocket
industry as result of their performance, efficiency, low cost, and ease of storage
• The Everclear 1 was never launched• Plasma engines and shields are the next level of
space technology• Astrophysics is the key to human exploration
throughout the galaxy• Mars colonization is the first step in the
development of human existence on distance worlds
Special ThanksSpecial Thanks
• The Harlem Children Society• Dr. Sat Bhattacharya• Dr. Leslie Lieberman• Dr. John Brandenburg• SpaceHab, Inc. • Florida Space Institute • University of Central Florida • The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
