Launchpad: Firing the Space Shuttle Main Engines

Learn about the chemical reaction that occurs when liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are combined to operate the space shuttles three main engines. See how this controlled explosion moves the shuttle up into orbit.

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[letsgetverydrunk]

the space shuttle is AMAZING! there is so much scientists and engineers had (and have) to take into account, it's a miracle it exists!!! makes me proud and want to do my best for humanity :D

[kinsley2108]

She's hot.

[Au197]

@djsparkyful the hydrogen and oxygen ARE making water at tremendous temperatures. Thus, it comes out as super high pressure steam. It's a STEAM ROCKET. Talk about "steam punk". The combustion chamber and bell are cooled by regenerative cooling. Super cold liquid fuel is forced through channels in the walls and then flows to the injector plate. The fuel is heated and this helps with the burning. If this flow stopped for a instant the engine would melt.

[sulijoo]

When I was at school a bunch of us would go down a local park at lunchtime and create hydrogen explosions. We'd add some aluminium foil to some caustic soda, collect the resulting hydrogen gas in a plastic bag attached to it...then light it! Boom.

[Boy75402]

@djsparkyful

It's true that combining oxygen and hydrogen create water, but it also makes a lot of heat. So the water (steam) expands, creating thrust.

[Boy75402]

@djsparkyful

If you look at the engine bell, you'll see these pipes running along it. Fuel is channeled through those pipes in their way to the ignition chamber, carrying away some heat with it, and cooling the engine bell.

[Boy75402]

@lievenaw

It's true for all rockets.

The difference is that once structural failure of the Challenger tank occurred, the explosion went from controlled (useful), to uncontrolled (deadly).

[lievenaw]

"rockets are just controled explosions"  say that to the challenger

[sbrafk]

@djsparkyful There are alloys out there (such as nickel based ones) that can resist stress at tremendous temperatures. I'm not sure exactly what the engines are made of.

Hydrogen comes from a separate tank, injected (think cars with fuel and air), mixed with liquid O2, reacts, steam comes out of the nozzle producing thrust.

[djsparkyful]

I'm not a rocket scientist and would like to know how the engines burn hot enough to melt iron according to the video, but still remain useable, also I was under the belief that Hydrogen and Oxygen produce water, are these liquids being burned seperately? if not what is stopping them from becoming water? How does this work? A layman's explanation would be appreciated.