Explosion shows Biodiesel rockets might not be ready for prime time [w/video]
Click above and scroll down to watch the video
It's no secret that biodiesel can be used in airplanes (see BioJet I and, sort of, Virgin Atlantic). To use the biofuel in rockets might take a bit more work, as the 11-second video at the bottom of this post makes clear. The good news, though, is that an explosion during a recent test launch earlier this month in the Mojave Desert is giving engineers "a deeper appreciation for the biofuel," as Biodiesel Magazine puts it. The reason is that even when the biodiesel leaked and caught fire, the damage was much
Why is biodiesel safer? Biodiesel's flash point is much higher than kerosene's, about 200-300 degrees Fahrenheit compared to 82 degrees. Since the rocket is still in decent shape, the next test launch is scheduled for March 21.
[Source: Biodiesel Magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FitFan 6:53PM (3/15/2009)
"The reason is that even when the biodiesel leaked and caught fire, the damage was much worse than had traditional kerosene been in the tank. One engineer said that, "The biodiesel just went right out and the rocket did not even get scorched.""
These sentences don't make sense.
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Nick 2:12AM (3/16/2009)
Yeah it's not making sense!
Randy C. 9:14PM (3/15/2009)
This kaboom CAN NOT be blamed on the fuel alone. Bio-diesel can be just as safe or dangerous as any other fuel. Remember the films of the early days of rocketry? They had many spectacular explosions caused by the simplest of things going wrong. And they were using traditional fuels then, not some newfangled fuel extracted from biological products. So don't blame the fuel if a defective valve decides to stick open. Rockets by their very nature are dangerous. For a good flight every little piece has to perform perfectly, and there are a lot of them in a rocket.
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Chris 9:12AM (3/16/2009)
Maybe we should be blaming rocket amateurs and not the fuel itself.
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Tim 10:01AM (3/16/2009)
The reason is that even when the biodiesel leaked and caught fire, the damage was much worse than had traditional kerosene been in the tank. WRONG!
Should have read:
The reason is that even when the biodiesel leaked and caught fire, the damage was much LESS than had traditional kerosene been in the tank.
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Sebastian 2:48PM (3/16/2009)
Once again, I'm an idiot. Post has been updated.
Tim 3:06PM (3/16/2009)
To error is human. Keep up with the great reports. We all appreciate it!