FlyMoreRockets
Joined 8 years ago
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1,361
Submissions
684
Member since
Aug 10
Broad interests. Micro launch systems for space access. Sustainability. Retrotech. Efficient Design.
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Comment · 4 years ago
Thanks, I had no idea lead-bismuth reactors existed. It seems the large number of unstable lead isotopes and their long decay chain would assure a long cooldown requirement before any maintenance could be done in the reactor compartment/primary coolant system. Not only that, but this stuff would present a huge disposal problem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_lead
It seems the Alfa class was decommissioned for scrapping, though one was refitted with a pressurized water reactor for a while. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa-class_submarine#Decommiss...
An interesting issue with this design is that if the Pb-Bi coolant ever solidified, the reactor control rods became frozen in place.
Comment · 4 years ago
It may just be easier to design a zero G litter box. A screen bottom with a coarse granular material and sufficient airflow through the bed could work. No idea how a cat would dig in zero G though.
Comment · 4 years ago
I have a couple of EM tables,one from 1956,the other from 1966. Schematics used to be freely available untill somebody scooped up the copyrights and issued takedown notices so they could change a premium.
Maybe this tool will help me get them back up..
Comment · 5 years ago
It has been one before. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rozi%C3%A8re_balloon
Comment · 5 years ago
I've often wondered if a double envelope would be worthwhile. Use a thin outer envelope containing He, and an inner lifting envelope with H. The outer envelope would contain any H that leaked through the inner membrane.
Comment · 5 years ago
As noted, the lower explosive limit for hydrogen in air is 4%. Significantly lower with pure oxygen.
https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/2205/explosive-flammab...
The problem is that hydrogen is a very small molecule and readily escapes containment. It can even travel along grain boundaries through solid metal.
Comment · 5 years ago
A British film documenting theory and operation of the V2 rocket.