[119062] in Cypherpunks
Re: Thieves steal six ballistic missiles in Poland (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Choate)
Wed Oct 13 23:30:46 1999
From: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
Message-Id: <199910140327.WAA27208@einstein.ssz.com>
To: cypherpunks@einstein.ssz.com
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 22:27:42 -0500 (CDT)
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Reply-To: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
----- Forwarded message from Steve Schear -----
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 19:42:50 -0700
From: Steve Schear <schear@lvcm.com>
Subject: CDR: Re: Thieves steal six ballistic missiles in Poland
For fuel zinc dust mixed with sulphur (mixed 2:1 by volume) is the safest
to handle (it won't burn well at atmospheric pressures) and easily
obtained. After afixing the bulkhead turn the rocket motor face down. Mix
the propellent with a volatile liquid (like acetone) and mix slowly until
its the consistency of a shake. Let stand for a few minutes to allow
bubbles to escape. Pour the propellent slurry into the chamber till its
close to the where the nozzel mounts. A massage vibrator attached to the
chamber will help eliminate air bubbles. Allow to throughly dry undisturbed.
----- End of forwarded message from Steve Schear -----
This stuff is VERY DANGEROUS, it is so easy to kill oneself (e.g. forgeting
to wipe the threads or seals with a cold moist rag). It is STRONGLY
suggested that you pass this stuff right on by.
You can also use aluminum if you want a slower burn (and less thrust).
Almost any metal dust (e.g. iron) can be used.
Actualy the mix is very variable, 8 parts Zn to 1 part S as well as 1 Zn to
3 S will work - The Army Artillery and Missile School at Ft. Sill says use
2.04 Zn to 1 S by weight compressed at 161 lbs./ft^3, and you should use simple
alchohol instead of acetone. The reason is to slurry the sulphur and provide a
shock buffer. Metal dust compounds can be quite shock sensitive so watch the
vibrator suggestion, the fact that the chemical may be volatile is really
beside the point so long as sulphur will dissolve easily in it.
Don't let it stand, as soon as it is mixed you want to pour it through a set
of filters (cotton swabbing works wonderfuly).
As to drying, unless you pour it in stages you'll be letting it stand about
a year to get the consistency homogenous. It is strongly suggested to pour
it in stages. I personly like to rotate the tube longitudaly as small
amounts are added and build up a coating from the outside in. Provides a
very even burning rate.
"Caramel Candy" is another good option (saltpeter and sugar). Mix and melt
at 350F and be very(!) careful. Not only does it explode at approx. 600F
but it is shock sensitive.
An excellent reference is:
Rocket Manual For Amaeteurs
Capt. B.R. Brinley
The copy I have is an original printed in 1960 at the behest of the US Army.
The original price for the paperback was $0.75 and hardback was $6. You
won't find them for that price today.
For more modern references you can check out:
Rocket Propulsion Elements
G.P. Sutton
~$100 US
Space Propulsion Analysis and Design
Humble, Henry, & Larson
~$40 ppb, ~$60 hardcover
Both can be purchased at,
Rogers Aeroscience
PO Box 10065
Lancaster, CA
93584-0065
818-349-4825
(no email that I could find)
Both NAR and Tripoli, as well as a search at Google on experimental
rocketry, will point you to many more references. MIT has a very nice
webpage that is a copy of a venerable design doc that describes the
steps for making liquid fuel motors.
And people wonder why BATF is trying to outlaw amateur rocketry of all
types...
____________________________________________________________________
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full
of passionate intensity.
W.B. Yeats
The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate
Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com
www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087
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