All Questions
9 questions
8votes
4answers
3kviews
What is "aerospace grade"?
I recently asked this question. There, I was also linked to this other question. Both, however, could benefit from the answer to one fundamental point. What is "aerospace grade"? If ...
24votes
7answers
5kviews
What makes aluminum aerospace grade?
So what is aerospace grade aluminum? Aerospace grade and regular aluminum are both aluminum. Do they have a different composition or strength? What makes one aerospace grade and the other one not?
8votes
2answers
3kviews
What is the most expensive part of a rocket?
I want to say fuel is, but this Question Why isn't stainless steel used for rocket engines? has got me thinking about cost in the long run. What part commonly found on most rockets cost the most ...
- 1
2votes
1answer
919views
What is the nozzle extension of merlin engine and rutherford engine made of?
It is clear from the pictures, that the nozzle extension of Merlin and Rutherford vacuum engine aren't actively cooled. What is the material of construction for those nozzle extension to withstand ...
- 1,161
13votes
1answer
2kviews
Why isn't stainless steel used for rocket engines?
Most people have probably heard by now that Elon is changing Starship to a complete stainless steel build. Anyways, it got me thinking, why isn't stainless steel ever used for rocket engines (nozzle, ...
- 151
21votes
6answers
15kviews
Why not build rockets out of composite materials?
Considering how important mass ratio is for the rocket equation, why are rockets built still out of aluminium, and not some lighter material, perhaps carbon/glass fiber composites? I'm aware ...
- 1,652
12votes
1answer
2kviews
What exactly is the orange insulation foam used on many different launch vehicle stages?
What exactly is that orange/rust coloured insulation foam on the Space Shuttle external tank, the H-IIA/B, Delta-IV, and so many other launch vehicles? I remember finding the name of it in a NASA ...
- 4,390
6votes
1answer
335views
Do rockets have a "best before date" after assembly?
How many years can a liquid fuel rocket be safely stored (unfueled) between manufacturing and launch? Are they sensitive to slow processes like corrosion, material degradation from dehydration, other ...
- 27.1k
6votes
4answers
2kviews
Are composites used by space programs?
Wikipedia says this about the Boeing Dreamliner: The 787 was designed to be the first production airliner with the fuselage assembled with one-piece composite barrel sections instead of the multiple ...
- 13.7k
