MSL EDL Hardware, Its state & fate |
MSL EDL Hardware, Its state & fate |
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#1
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Junior Member ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 46 Joined: 14-January 06 Member No.: 645 ![]() |
Looking at the HiRISE imagery of the descent stage, does the distribution of the debris field represent the disintegration of the stage from impact only, or is it possible that some or all of the 140+/- kilos of Hydrozine exploded and expanded the debris field? [I understand the darker albedo material is from below the surface]
Does the thin martian atmosphere contain enough oxygen to support combustion/explosion? [guessing No, but my chem is insufficient] Were the hydrazine cells sufficiently designed to survive impact intact? I couldn't find anything on the net or in the specs, any ideas? |
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#2
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![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 ![]() |
Does the thin martian atmosphere contain enough oxygen to support combustion/explosion? [guessing No, but my chem is insufficient] No, but monopropellant hydrazine in the tanks is its own fuel and oxidizer. -------------------- |
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#3
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Junior Member ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 89 Joined: 27-August 05 From: Eccentric Mars orbit Member No.: 477 ![]() |
No, but monopropellant hydrazine in the tanks is its own fuel and oxidizer. Strictly speaking, monoprop doesn't even burn, it decomposes. In an engine, it is triggered by a metal catalyst. Is iron oxide an appropriate catalyst? If so, then I can see the tanks splitting on impact then the fuel igniting when it hits the dust. |
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#4
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Junior Member ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 57 Joined: 6-September 07 From: Netherlands Member No.: 3683 ![]() |
In an engine, it is triggered by a metal catalyst. Is iron oxide an appropriate catalyst? No, from my bare head you need a catalyst with iridium and/or ruthenium normally. Metals like cobalt, nickel or iron will speed up the decomposition but not nearly to the point of catalytic decomposition (only 10x to max 100 x compared to air). The catch here is that this gets highly uncertain when CO2, H20 or CH4 is present.... guess what's in the atmosphere of Mars;-) There is a similar issue with acidic stuff pressent. -------------------- Error: Life.sys corrupted
( R )eflect, ( R )epend, or ( R )eboot? |
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