University Chemistry ›› 2023, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (12): 181-185.doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202308093

Special Issue:

• Science Education • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Boosting Rockets, Driving Dreams: Mysterious Propellants

Yanan Wu1, Xuecheng Ran1, Juanjuan Gao1, Wen Zhao1, Junke Wang2, Yingxiao Zong1,*(), Kin Shing Chan3,*()   

  1. 1 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, Gansu Province, China
    2 Key Laboratory of Hexi Corridor Resources Utilization of Gansu, Zhangye 734000, Gansu Province, China
    3 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
  • Received:2023-08-25 Accepted:2023-09-22 Published:2023-11-03
  • Contact: Yingxiao Zong, Kin Shing Chan E-mail:zongyx@hxu.edu.cn;kschan@nju.edu.cn

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Abstract:

The Zhuque family, who lived in the Hexi Corridor on the ancient Silk Road, established LANDSPACE and has been exploring environmental, economic, and safety propellants. Little Zhuque visited LANDSPACE and learned about various liquid propellants, including liquid oxygen and kerosene with high thrust but easy carbon accumulation, environmentally friendly liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen with high energy consumption, stable but toxic unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. Finally, they discovered that the Zhuque Two carrier rocket, launched by LANDSPACE, was the world's first rocket to use liquid oxygen and methane as propellants. Liquid oxygen and methane are expected to have broader applications in the future due to their abundant reserves, easy storage conditions, safe transportation, complete combustion, and pollution-free combustion products.

Key words: Propellants, Liquid oxygen and methane, Zhuque Two