Model Forum / General / Rockets / July 2007

N20, unfortunately, under the right circumstances N20 is self
sustainingly flammable and or explosive. I know there have been a few
instances in the auto and boat racing communities, where catastrophic
N20 accidents have occurred; can't remember specifics. However, with
permission from Anthony J. Cesaroni, I am posting his response from
another group discussion. I believe his explanation gives N20 tecnical
perspective. Based on his knowledge and companies expertise, I suggest
you may have jumped the gun, so to speak, when you contacted Reuters.

Fred

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"Nitrous oxide is not "air with a higher percentage of oxygen". It is an
energetic, exothermic monopropellant and will run quite nicely on it's
own
with an Isp of about 170. It just happens to have a positive oxygen
balance.
There have been several industrial accidents occurring along these lines
with N2O the most recent being in the Netherlands during a truck
transfer
and it took out a whole building. N2O begins to decompose at around 600
C
and will run away rapidly and even DDT under the right conditions.
That's
not to suggest that's what happened in Mojave yesterday but regardless,
the
material is not as benign as many claim and needs to be treated with the
same precautions as you would any energetic oxidizer or highly
pressurized
situation".

Anthony J. Cesaroni
President/CEO
Cesaroni Technology/Cesaroni Aerospace

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We need to outlaw Charles Schumer and Frank Lautenberg.