Question

What are the fuels used in the rocket propellant or engine (both solid and liquid).

Answer 1

There are various fuels, both solid and liquid fuels used in rockets. It is actually selected based on various criterias like the type of rockets, its range, etc.A solid fuel rocket has its fuel and oxidant mixed together as fine powders and then pressed in to a solid 'cake'. Once it has been lit it will carry on burning until it is used up. In a black powder rocket the fuel is carbon and the oxidant, potassium nitrate. Sulphur acts as a secondary fuel and also catalyses the reaction.

Some of the liquid propellant used are,

• Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen - used in the Space Shuttle main engines
• Gasoline and liquid oxygen - used in Goddard's early rockets
• Kerosene and liquid oxygen - used on the first stage of the large Saturn V boosters in the Apollo program
• Alcohol and liquid oxygen - used in the German V2 rockets
• Nitrogen tetroxide/monomethyl hydrazine- used in the Cassini engines