I have just been wondering about this for a while... couldn't come up with anything... Please help...
2007-06-18 05:53:41 · 9 answers · asked by Lexington 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This si the fundamental difference between a jet and a rocket. A jet requires the oxygen from the air, while a rocket carries its own. The shuttle, for example, uses three types of fuel.
Firstly, the solid rocket boosters on the side of the main tank. These contain a rubbery mix of fuel and oxidiser (oxidiser does not have to be pure oxygen). When a spark ignites the mix the components burn. The disadvantage of a solid rocket booster is that once it fires you can't turn it off.
Then there are the main engines of the shuttle. These use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, both of which are carried in the big external tank. These are combined in the engine and ignited.
In space it uses hypergolic propellants. These are two compounds that ignite spontaneously on contact. That keeps the engine design very simple, which is desirable in space where you can't really service the engines.
So, in summary, rockets carry their own oxidiser with them so they can operate in an environment in which there is none to use.
2007-06-18 10:29:42 · answer #1 · answered by Jason T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the others have it..a rocket carries it's own oxidizer. However, the oxidizer doesn't have to be pure oxygen. Hypergolic fuels, such as those used by the core engines of Titan-IV rockets (based on those used on Titan-II engines of the Gemini program) consist of two liquids which, when mixed, combust spontaneously. The oxidizer part contains oxygen but as a component, not as the main liquid.
2007-06-18 14:27:56 · answer #2 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe inside the aircraft there is oxygen so when anything catches fire in the craft then due to other gases in the space craft may lead to an explosion of the space craft r u learning about astronomy
2007-06-18 13:03:04 · answer #3 · answered by nehad 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is oxygen inside the spacwcraft and in the fuel tanks.
2007-06-18 13:01:26 · answer #4 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they bring oxygen, hence the difference between a rocket engine and a jet engine.
2007-06-18 13:32:21 · answer #5 · answered by TrevaThaKilla 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have to bring their oxygen with them, in some form or another.
2007-06-18 12:57:17 · answer #6 · answered by Gary H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. The fuel contains its own oxidizer.
2007-06-18 12:56:44 · answer #7 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Solid fuel. http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=nasa+rocket+fuel&fr=ush-ans
2007-06-18 13:02:12 · answer #8 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They bring their own.
2007-06-18 13:16:09 · answer #9 · answered by anonymous 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋