It's pressurized with helium, so the explosion is really just the tank
rupturing due to flight pressure. Followed by burning kerosene from the
lower tank and a cold white cloud due to the liquid oxygen from the upper
tank. I doubt if there was much vaporized kerosene mixed with the helium in
the tank, but as you pointed mixing with air happened really soon after
rupture.
On Jan 18, 2016 9:51 AM, "Henry Spencer" <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Mon, 18 Jan 2016, Dave McMillan wrote:
I *was* surprised at how instantly the rocket exploded when it hit the
deck -- I would have expected a moment for the tanks to rupture and the
residual propellants to mix a bit before the "boom."
Remember that kerosene doesn't need LOX to burn -- it's perfectly happy
reacting with air instead. :-) When a pressurized tank full of kerosene
vapor splits open, things can happen quickly.
Henry
