Liquid rocket propellant

The highest <a href="/facts/Specific_impulse/JKGgw2I4">specific impulse</a> chemical rockets use liquid propellants (<a href="/facts/Liquid-propellant_rocket/TAonrVDn">liquid-propellant rockets</a>). They can consist of a single chemical (a monopropellant) or a mix of two chemicals, called <a href="/facts/Bipropellants/TAonrVDn">bipropellants</a>. Bipropellants can further be divided into two categories; <a href="/facts/Hypergolic_propellant/p0Goa3rn">hypergolic propellants</a>, which ignite when the fuel and <a href="/facts/Oxidizing_agent/1FQzB8pQ">oxidizer</a> make contact, and non-hypergolic propellants which require an ignition source.
About 170 different <a href="/facts/Propellants/K88ymXRy">propellants</a> made of <a href="/facts/Liquid_fuel/SBQECB5J">liquid fuel</a> have been tested, excluding minor changes to a specific propellant such as propellant additives, corrosion inhibitors, or stabilizers. In the U.S. alone at least 25 different propellant combinations have been flown.
Many factors go into choosing a propellant for a liquid-propellant rocket engine. The primary factors include ease of operation, cost, hazards/environment and performance.

Liquid rocket propellant open-in-new

Liquid rocket propellant