Rocket Engine shock diamonds - XCOR 5K18 "Lynx" engine

This video demonstrates shock diamonds in a healthy, stable rocket engine. As supersonic gasses leave the engine, the gasses encounter the ambient air pressure, which results in a complex interaction where the gasses compress and then expand repeatedly, resulting in the diamond pattern.

On a LOX-Kerosene Rocket Engine, the afterburning in the plume makes it too bright to be able to see the diamonds, but if you iris the camera down very very low, you can see them, as we have done in the camera at the top. A LOX-Kero plume burns about as brightly as the sun as viewed from earth, at sea level atmosphere.

*** MINOR CORRECTION: Video slate states it is a 6 scond run - it is actually an 8 second run.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• rocket
• engine
• shock
• diamond
• mach
• discs
• diamonds
• XCOR
• suborbital
• LOX
• kerosene
• liquid

[EinhanderSn0m4n]

Your exhaust flow is a bit underexpanded; maybe a bigger nozzle can get a bit more thrust at sea level. Nice proof of concept, though :)

[XCORAerospace]

Correct. Proper expansion wasn't the point with this test.

[PearlofRocketland]

That is an impressive shock diamond. How are you able to display it so clearly? infrared camera or something?

[XCORAerospace]

Just closing down the iris, gain and the shutter speed until it is very dark. You need a camera that can go full manual to do this.

[XCORAerospace]

minor correction on our title slate: The slate indicates a 6 second run, this run is actually eight seconds in length.

[Glitchman87]

Keep up the excellent work, everyone. It's great to see the 5K18 up and running. -Geo

[moneyman10k]

shit just got real folks