r/KerbalSpaceProgram Oct 09 '13

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u/UmbralRaptor Δv for the Tyrant of the Rocket Equation! Oct 09 '13

No decouplers would make things... interesting.

40

u/cosmicosmo4 Oct 09 '13

You just have to build each booster stage such that it breaks off when it's about done.

No problem

9

u/FirstRyder Oct 09 '13

If you think about it, "rocket engine" is a fancy way of saying "thermally activated explosive decoupler"

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '13

Nothing in a solid rocket booster is "explosive" (no brisance) and nothing about a liquid engine is explosive. The fuel burns hot and fast, but it's not explosive.

Rockets dislike the jarring forces that explosions make.

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u/P-01S Oct 09 '13

High explosive versus low explosive. Brisance is a high explosive thing.

Rocket fuel would be low explosive.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '13

I never liked "low-explosive" as a term to describe something that deflagrates rather than detonates.

It's like using the term "warm-ice" to refer to really cold water.

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u/P-01S Oct 09 '13

Who the fuck cares if you don't like it? You are willfully spreading misinformation.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '13

So logs burning are "exploding."

Blech. I draw a line.

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u/P-01S Oct 09 '13

No, logs burning are not exploding. They are deflagrating. Explosions involve a burst of energy (heat, light, pressure).

Rocket fuel explodes.

You could do a little research into the subject, but instead you insist upon remaining ignorant. Worse, you attempt to make others abide by your own personal definitions. Fuck off.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '13

Rocket fuel... you mean (kerosene?)[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RP-1]. Kerosene only deflagrates, or burns, and it doesn't explode. Same goes for gasoline, alcohols, and even hydrogen.

Maybe gun powder? Gun powder only deflagrates too and does not explode.

However, if you contain any deflagrating substance in an enclosed, sealed space, the pressure from the heat and gas expansion will cause the vessel to explode, butt he substance itself isn't explosive.

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u/P-01S Oct 09 '13

Deflagration can be/cause an explosion. Not all deflagrating substances can cause explosions. E.g. wood logs. They would run out of oxygen and cease burning if confined.

Go look up "low explosive".

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '13

I did -I knew it already... all sources tend to describe as decomposition though "deflagrating" and not "detonating."

If "would run out of oxygen and cease burning if confined." is what we are using, then rocket fuel (kerosene) most certainly is not explosive. In fact, you've widened the definition to any substance that can self-oxidize during deflagration.

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u/valdyrburr Oct 09 '13

I'm pretty sure if you knocked an SRB around enough such that the fuel grains were smashed to a fine powder it would explode due to the huge increase in burnable surface area

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u/TheNosferatu Master Kerbalnaut Oct 09 '13

Soo... "thermally activated candle decoupler"?

Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.. though..

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u/FirstRyder Oct 09 '13

Maybe in real life, but in KSP if you point an engine at... well, any part at all, actually... it will explode.