Does LOX boil off in space?

LOX could be used at about Mars orbit and deeper into space. When boil-off does occur, large tanks with high volume to surface area ratios minimize the rate of loss due to boil-off….

Why would you say that space shuttles rather use hydrogen as its primary fuel source instead of one of the other fuels in the table?

Liquid Hydrogen–the Fuel of Choice for Space Exploration. Because liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen are both cryogenic — gases that can be liquefied only at extremely low temperatures — they pose enormous technical challenges. Liquid hydrogen must be stored at minus 423°F and handled with extreme care.

What does NASA use for fuel?

hydrogen
NASA’s hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are used for many purposes. NASA has relied upon hydrogen gas as rocket fuel to deliver crew and cargo to space. With the recent focus on human missions to the moon and eventually Mars, hydrogen will continue to be innovatively stored, measured, processed and employed.

What are storable propellants?

The most common hypergolic fuels, hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, and oxidizer, nitrogen tetroxide, are all liquid at ordinary temperatures and pressures. They are therefore sometimes called storable liquid propellants.

How do spaceships not run out of fuel?

Since space ships need to conserve fuel, the engines are normally turned off for most of the journey. This is because the space ship will still be moving even without the use of fuel as has already been explained. The engines will then only be turned on to decelerate.

What would happen if a spaceship ran out of fuel in outer space?

Space ships do not stop when they run out of fuel. As a result, there is essentially zero friction in space to slow down moving objects. Unlike ships in water, a ship in space does not need constant thrust to keep moving forward.

Why doesn’t NASA use fuel cells for space missions?

•Current energy storage technologies are insufficient for NASA exploration missions •Availability of flight-qualified fuel cells ended with the Space Shuttle Program •Terrestrial fuel cells not directly portable to space applications • Different wetted material requirements (air vs. pure O 2 ) • Different internal flow characteristics

How do you protect a rocket from the Sun?

To keep it from evaporating or boiling off, rockets fuelled with liquid hydrogen must be carefully insulated from all sources of heat, such as rocket engine exhaust and air friction during flight through the atmosphere. Once the vehicle reaches space, it must be protected from the radiant heat of the Sun.

What happened to NASA’s liquid hydrogen tanks?

At Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, liquid hydrogen tank that supported space shuttle launches for 30 years have been sandblasted, repaired and repainted. Along with the liquid oxygen storage vessel, the two tanks are designed to store super-cold propellants.

How do you store liquid hydrogen in space?

Liquid hydrogen must be stored at minus 423°F and handled with extreme care. To keep it from evaporating or boiling off, rockets fuelled with liquid hydrogen must be carefully insulated from all sources of heat, such as rocket engine exhaust and air friction during flight through the atmosphere.