3 ms·

Why do the ground crew in picture have hazmat suits?

TallGuyShort 7y ago
Andromeda Strain?
agurk 7y ago
Most likely they're working with very hazardous fuels and oxidisers like hydrazine[0]. Edit: it seems that the orbiter was upgraded to use hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide[1] from the somewhat less toxic hydrogen peroxide/JP-8 combination originally specced for its AR2-3 engine. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine [1] https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/ https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/
lykr0n 7y ago
Hydrazine is hella toxic
- perl4ever 7y ago
  From Wikipedia: "The hydrazine antidepressants...were discovered and initially marketed in the 1950s and 1960s. Most have been withdrawn due to toxicity..."
larelli 7y ago
The Reaction Control System (RCS) [1] uses hypergolic fuels [2] which are highly toxic. Such fuels are desirable in this application because they combust whenever the fuel and oxidizer are brought in contact. There's no need to an ignition system, which reduces the chance for failure. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_control_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_control_system [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant
2trill2spill 7y ago
Hydrazine is one nasty substance and that's whats being used for maneuvering in orbit[1]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine#Occupational_hazards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine#Occupational_hazards
vibrolax 7y ago
As others have said, the hydrazine / nitrogen tetroxide propellant for the reaction control system is highly toxic. The retired space shuttle used the same type of propellants in its RCS, auxiliary power unit (APU) and orbital maneuvering system (OMS), so it was also met upon landing by a hazmat suited service crew.
foobarian 7y ago
This NASA safety video from the Apollo era is incredible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND2TeNfcmKA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND2TeNfcmKA
cobalt 7y ago
http://www.hazmat.tripod.com/id33.html http://www.hazmat.tripod.com/id33.html

Andromeda Strain?

Most likely they're working with very hazardous fuels and oxidisers like hydrazine[0]. Edit: it seems that the orbiter was upgraded to use hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide[1] from the somewhat less toxic hydrogen peroxide/JP-8 combination originally specced for its AR2-3 engine. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine [1] https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/ https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/

lykr0n 7y ago

Hydrazine is hella toxic

perl4ever 7y ago
From Wikipedia: "The hydrazine antidepressants...were discovered and initially marketed in the 1950s and 1960s. Most have been withdrawn due to toxicity..."

larelli 7y ago

The Reaction Control System (RCS) [1] uses hypergolic fuels [2] which are highly toxic. Such fuels are desirable in this application because they combust whenever the fuel and oxidizer are brought in contact. There's no need to an ignition system, which reduces the chance for failure. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_control_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_control_system [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant

2trill2spill 7y ago

Hydrazine is one nasty substance and that's whats being used for maneuvering in orbit[1]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine#Occupational_hazards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine#Occupational_hazards

vibrolax 7y ago

As others have said, the hydrazine / nitrogen tetroxide propellant for the reaction control system is highly toxic. The retired space shuttle used the same type of propellants in its RCS, auxiliary power unit (APU) and orbital maneuvering system (OMS), so it was also met upon landing by a hazmat suited service crew.

foobarian 7y ago

This NASA safety video from the Apollo era is incredible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND2TeNfcmKA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND2TeNfcmKA

cobalt 7y ago

http://www.hazmat.tripod.com/id33.html http://www.hazmat.tripod.com/id33.html