Ares I-X Rocket Launch - Rise of the Solid Fuel Rocket

Mark your calendar so you don't miss the test launch of the Ares I-X rocket targeted for 8 am on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

The Ares rocket is interesting for several reasons. With respect to chemistry, it's very exciting because the first stage uses a five-segment solid fuel rocket motor, capable of generating 3.3 million pounds of thrust. Safety has been one of the concerns associated with using a solid rocket fuel. Once ignited, the solid fuel has everything necessary for combustion, so it can't simply be turned off. Plus, there are negative associations with unstable early solid rocket fuels (e.g., gunpowder). The solid stage of the Ares rocket consists of a fuel which may be unfamiliar to you -- a specially shaped solid polybutadiene acrylonitrile.

The second or upper stage of the rocket burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen using an engine similar to that used by the Saturn rockets of the Apollo era. The science and engineering associated with the rocket is nothing short of incredible. The successful launch of the Ares I-X test rocket will verify the complex modeling required for a new launch vehicle and will be used to evaluate the rocket for further development.

Chemistry plays a large role in rocket science, particularly for this rocket, so I'll keep you updated on the launch and will post a couple of rocket projects for you to try yourself.