Soviet Moon rocket secrets revealed

BBC News ^ | 3/20/02 | Dr David Whitehouse

[Centurion2000]

Pretty kewl ... it would have been nice to see the Soviets put a man on the moon a couple of years after us though. That would have kept the rivlary high and we would probably be beyond Jupiter by now.

[Grut]

"Der Schweigende Stern" = "The being silent asterisk."

It is possible that machine translation has some way to go.

[Norwell]

It is a shame with all this technological capability, they still cannot provide their populace a reliable road system or clean water.

[Askel5]

Wanna see my stamp collection? =)

[theDentist]

History Channel did a program about Soviet Space Disasters. The most un-forgettable story was of a Russian General who demanded seats be set only a hundred meters from one of the rockets, which was loaded with a fuel so unstable, it was called the "Devil's Brew. A bunch of his syncophants (sp?) sat with him for the launch. Most of the rocket never left the ground. Everything and everyone within a quarter mile was lost. Seems to me that General should have gotten a Darwin Award.

Another lesson learned.

[Bob J]

Tonight on Radio Free Republic we have "On Target" with host John Bender! Tonight, Johns guest is Charles Cunningham, Director of Federal Affairs for the NRA!

Following John at 7pm/10pm, we have a special edition of RFR hosted by ALOHA RONNIE! AR, a Veteran of the Battle of IA DRANG-1965 / Landing Zone Falcon (3 mins out from Landing Zone X-Ray), who will be reviewing "We Were Soldiers"! AR will taking lots of calls!

To listen in while you FReep, go to theFRN Homepage and scroll down the left side for the RadioFR button!

[LRS]

That History Channel show about Soviet space failures was great stuff! I liked the story about how they sent up three Cosmonauts in what was essentially a one man capsule just so they could say they outdid the U.S. Those guys were sent up without pressure suits. That they returned alive was a miracle. Its when one considers these sorts of nutty notions that one begins to realize just why the USSR failed (aside from the whole Marxist/Leninist failed concept itself.)

[jimkress]

Thanks for the ping!

[boris]

"most un-forgettable story was of a Russian General who demanded seats be set only a hundred meters from one of the rockets, which was loaded with a fuel so unstable, it was called the "Devil's Brew."

I believe the "Devil's Brew" was simply Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) and Unsymmetrical Dimethyl Hydrazine (UDMH). We use more modern versions all the time; they're called NTO (Nitrogen tetroxide, N2O4) and MMH (monomethyl hydrazine). These are not toys but can be safely handled if you know what you're doing.

Vehicles which use these propellants include the Space Shuttle, Peacekeeper missile, modern "KEW" (kinetic energy weapon) prototypes, and others.

A version of NTO, called MON-25 (Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen) is baselined for some Mars sample return candidates, along with MMH.

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is being promoted as a "non-toxic" replacement for the Nitric Acid oxidizers. Try drinking a glass of 98% peroxide and tell me how non-toxic it is. It has lower performance and can be just as unstable.

See This and this for details.

--Boris

[NormsRevenge]

What did the X series rocket planes burn ? X-15, X-1

[theDentist]

Hey Boris, I think I used that stuff to make some drinks at the last Christmas Party I attended. I don't remember much more of that night.... or week... or year.

But I can see how it might send people into a lunar orbit.

[theDentist]

That's him!!! I really have to laugh at it. Ordering chairs be moved closer so he could be sure to feel the power of the launch. And his various toadies nervously agreeing to sit by his side.

"7ski... 6ski... 5ski... 4ski..... uh-oh!"

"Excuse me, Comrade Marshall. There seems to be a slight delay in the countdown.
Would you like to smoke?"

[boris]

"What did the X series rocket planes burn ? X-15, X-1"

The X-15 used liquid oxygen and ammonia (NH3). I am not sure but I believe X1 was LOX/Alcohol.

--Boris

[Brett66]

Found another pic:

[End The Hypocrisy]

The SPACE section at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/SPACE

hasn't accepted new postings for months. Fortunately the NASA section does. I guess the space section's broken?