Snapshot last week China One rocket Long March 3B Y90, which launched an Earth observation satellite into orbit. There is a scary picture in the footage of the missile launch reddish cloud; to see.
Observers have already noted a reddish emission from a number of other Chinese missile launches. He doesn’t look healthy. As can be read on Twitter, it is not. “If you’ve ever seen such a cloud, run,” experts advise.
But how does crimson smoke form? It results from the use of the chemical Distick stoff tetraoxide (N204) I overdrive The missile. These high speed impellers are intended to ensure that the engines can ignite easily and reliably.
Nitrous oxide ignites spontaneously when it comes into contact with a fuel source in a rocket engine. This releases a huge amount of heat energy and toxic gases. Astrophysicist Scott Manley He shows how hyperactive rocket fuels work in detail in a YouTube video:
As Manley explains, nitrous oxide molecules are composed of 2 nitro seteach of which consists of one a nitrogen atom And a couple oxygen atoms made up. The two groups are linked by a weak bond between nitrogen atoms.
at a temperature -11.2 ° C Nitrogen dioxide turns into nitrous oxide. When heated, it decomposes back into nitrogen dioxide and darkens.
The cochineal cloud forms when nitrous oxide decomposes into nitrogen dioxide from the heat of reaction between the oxidizer and the fuel. The resulting gas is not just highly toxicbut also very likely carcinogenic.
dangerous to the population
For the Chinese population, steep descents can also be dangerous outside of missile launches. Chinese Booster In the past, they often crashed near densely populated areas, also emitting excessive toxic fuel residue. However, government agencies called on local residents to remove the rubble themselves.
Cleaner missiles
China is trying to get away from toxic rocket fuel. However, the development of new missiles with cleaner propellants encountered many problems and delays. Just a few years ago, the first “clean” Chinese rockets took off. Still last year launch approx 40 missiles with excessive fuel.
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