3 ms·
The SR-71 used triethylborane to light its engines, which is also used by SpaceX to light the main engines (in combination with triethylaluminum); these are als
by skykooler 6y ago
The SR-71 used triethylborane to light its engines, which is also used by SpaceX to light the main engines (in combination with triethylaluminum); these are also toxic chemicals, but different from the hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide used onboard the Dragon.
- vvanders 6y agoYeah, hence why I said "similar" they're both hypergolic if I remember correctly.
- MPSimmons 6y agoSmall nit, but TEATEB isn't hypergolic, it's pyrophoric. Hypergolic indicates when when two propellants (a fuel and an oxidizer) come in contact with each other, they ignite spontaneously. Pyrophoric indicates that the fuel ignites when it contacts air (no oxidizer needed in a normal Earth atmosphere).
- vvanders 6y agoIt's listed as one of the more common[1] hypergolic propellants with LOX, pyrophoric is pretty much a superset of hypergolic(just that earth air brings the oxidizer "for free"). [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant#Common https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant#Common
- foota 6y agoI believe you mean subset, yes? In that some subset of hypergolic materials have a component of air as their oxidizer and are therefore pyrophoric.