Can a Soyuz-MS still propel itself back to earth if all its Hydrogen Peroxide decomposed?
In this answer it is stated that:
If the fuel fully decomposes then return to Earth is still possible but only via ballistic descent
I find it a little bit surprising, but maybe there is enough Δv in the cold gas thrusters?
reentry engines soyuz-spacecraft
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
add a comment |
In this answer it is stated that:
If the fuel fully decomposes then return to Earth is still possible but only via ballistic descent
I find it a little bit surprising, but maybe there is enough Δv in the cold gas thrusters?
reentry engines soyuz-spacecraft
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
add a comment |
In this answer it is stated that:
If the fuel fully decomposes then return to Earth is still possible but only via ballistic descent
I find it a little bit surprising, but maybe there is enough Δv in the cold gas thrusters?
reentry engines soyuz-spacecraft
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
In this answer it is stated that:
If the fuel fully decomposes then return to Earth is still possible but only via ballistic descent
I find it a little bit surprising, but maybe there is enough Δv in the cold gas thrusters?
reentry engines soyuz-spacecraft
reentry engines soyuz-spacecraft
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
edited 3 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
727212
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
asked 10 hours ago
Antzi
7,87512451
7,87512451
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Most thrusters on the Soyuz-MS spacecraft use Nitrogen Tetroxide1 (N2O4, oxidizer)
and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine2 (UDMH, fuel). These are stored (and burned) on the service module and both are fairly stable (from a storage-lifetime standpoint). For safety reasons it was decided that the descent module would use Hydrogen Peroxide3 (H2O2) monopropellent4 as its fuel. Most operations including orientation while on-orbit as well as the deorbit burn are carried out using the service module's engines (N2O4/UDMH); the only thing that the peroxide engines in the descent module are used for is controlling the module's attitude and thus its flight path in the atmosphere5.
1 Nasty stuff
2 Even worse
3 Not that nice either. However, the product of its combustion is water and oxygen which is also what it degrades to over time. This means that any leaks into the crewed descent module wouldn't be too bad.
4 The peroxide spontaneous combusts on contact with a catalyst (platinum for Soyuz-MS IIRC). This typically makes the thrusters more reliable since only the fuel valve needs to work for the thruster to function.
5 The descent module's trajectory can be changed by adjusting the heat shield's angle of attack against the atmosphere. Said adjustment is done with the peroxide thrusters. If the thrusters are not available then the angle of attack can't be controlled and the reëntry will be a bit rough (up to 8.2G rough).
More technical details can be found on this page and on Wikipedia. Also somewhat apropos is this video.
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "508"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fspace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f33101%2fcan-a-soyuz-ms-still-propel-itself-back-to-earth-if-all-its-hydrogen-peroxide-de%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Most thrusters on the Soyuz-MS spacecraft use Nitrogen Tetroxide1 (N2O4, oxidizer)
and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine2 (UDMH, fuel). These are stored (and burned) on the service module and both are fairly stable (from a storage-lifetime standpoint). For safety reasons it was decided that the descent module would use Hydrogen Peroxide3 (H2O2) monopropellent4 as its fuel. Most operations including orientation while on-orbit as well as the deorbit burn are carried out using the service module's engines (N2O4/UDMH); the only thing that the peroxide engines in the descent module are used for is controlling the module's attitude and thus its flight path in the atmosphere5.
1 Nasty stuff
2 Even worse
3 Not that nice either. However, the product of its combustion is water and oxygen which is also what it degrades to over time. This means that any leaks into the crewed descent module wouldn't be too bad.
4 The peroxide spontaneous combusts on contact with a catalyst (platinum for Soyuz-MS IIRC). This typically makes the thrusters more reliable since only the fuel valve needs to work for the thruster to function.
5 The descent module's trajectory can be changed by adjusting the heat shield's angle of attack against the atmosphere. Said adjustment is done with the peroxide thrusters. If the thrusters are not available then the angle of attack can't be controlled and the reëntry will be a bit rough (up to 8.2G rough).
More technical details can be found on this page and on Wikipedia. Also somewhat apropos is this video.
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Most thrusters on the Soyuz-MS spacecraft use Nitrogen Tetroxide1 (N2O4, oxidizer)
and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine2 (UDMH, fuel). These are stored (and burned) on the service module and both are fairly stable (from a storage-lifetime standpoint). For safety reasons it was decided that the descent module would use Hydrogen Peroxide3 (H2O2) monopropellent4 as its fuel. Most operations including orientation while on-orbit as well as the deorbit burn are carried out using the service module's engines (N2O4/UDMH); the only thing that the peroxide engines in the descent module are used for is controlling the module's attitude and thus its flight path in the atmosphere5.
1 Nasty stuff
2 Even worse
3 Not that nice either. However, the product of its combustion is water and oxygen which is also what it degrades to over time. This means that any leaks into the crewed descent module wouldn't be too bad.
4 The peroxide spontaneous combusts on contact with a catalyst (platinum for Soyuz-MS IIRC). This typically makes the thrusters more reliable since only the fuel valve needs to work for the thruster to function.
5 The descent module's trajectory can be changed by adjusting the heat shield's angle of attack against the atmosphere. Said adjustment is done with the peroxide thrusters. If the thrusters are not available then the angle of attack can't be controlled and the reëntry will be a bit rough (up to 8.2G rough).
More technical details can be found on this page and on Wikipedia. Also somewhat apropos is this video.
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Most thrusters on the Soyuz-MS spacecraft use Nitrogen Tetroxide1 (N2O4, oxidizer)
and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine2 (UDMH, fuel). These are stored (and burned) on the service module and both are fairly stable (from a storage-lifetime standpoint). For safety reasons it was decided that the descent module would use Hydrogen Peroxide3 (H2O2) monopropellent4 as its fuel. Most operations including orientation while on-orbit as well as the deorbit burn are carried out using the service module's engines (N2O4/UDMH); the only thing that the peroxide engines in the descent module are used for is controlling the module's attitude and thus its flight path in the atmosphere5.
1 Nasty stuff
2 Even worse
3 Not that nice either. However, the product of its combustion is water and oxygen which is also what it degrades to over time. This means that any leaks into the crewed descent module wouldn't be too bad.
4 The peroxide spontaneous combusts on contact with a catalyst (platinum for Soyuz-MS IIRC). This typically makes the thrusters more reliable since only the fuel valve needs to work for the thruster to function.
5 The descent module's trajectory can be changed by adjusting the heat shield's angle of attack against the atmosphere. Said adjustment is done with the peroxide thrusters. If the thrusters are not available then the angle of attack can't be controlled and the reëntry will be a bit rough (up to 8.2G rough).
More technical details can be found on this page and on Wikipedia. Also somewhat apropos is this video.
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Most thrusters on the Soyuz-MS spacecraft use Nitrogen Tetroxide1 (N2O4, oxidizer)
and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine2 (UDMH, fuel). These are stored (and burned) on the service module and both are fairly stable (from a storage-lifetime standpoint). For safety reasons it was decided that the descent module would use Hydrogen Peroxide3 (H2O2) monopropellent4 as its fuel. Most operations including orientation while on-orbit as well as the deorbit burn are carried out using the service module's engines (N2O4/UDMH); the only thing that the peroxide engines in the descent module are used for is controlling the module's attitude and thus its flight path in the atmosphere5.
1 Nasty stuff
2 Even worse
3 Not that nice either. However, the product of its combustion is water and oxygen which is also what it degrades to over time. This means that any leaks into the crewed descent module wouldn't be too bad.
4 The peroxide spontaneous combusts on contact with a catalyst (platinum for Soyuz-MS IIRC). This typically makes the thrusters more reliable since only the fuel valve needs to work for the thruster to function.
5 The descent module's trajectory can be changed by adjusting the heat shield's angle of attack against the atmosphere. Said adjustment is done with the peroxide thrusters. If the thrusters are not available then the angle of attack can't be controlled and the reëntry will be a bit rough (up to 8.2G rough).
More technical details can be found on this page and on Wikipedia. Also somewhat apropos is this video.
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
answered 9 hours ago
Alex Hajnal
727212
727212
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex Hajnal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
add a comment |
1
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
1
1
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
@uhoh I think there's a good follow-up question there...
– Alex Hajnal
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
I see it, thanks! I'll return later, if it's still unanswered I'll see if I can post some of that there.
– uhoh
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Space Exploration Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fspace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f33101%2fcan-a-soyuz-ms-still-propel-itself-back-to-earth-if-all-its-hydrogen-peroxide-de%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
