Propellant chemistry

Fuels, oxidizers, and combustion details.

A practical guide to solid, storable, cryogenic, methane, kerosene, hydrogen, electric, and speculative propulsion classes.

Engine visual

Rocket engine test image

This page includes the generated engine-test image for propulsion, combustion, and simulation context.

Clean-burning methane supports reusable engine goals. Simplified reaction: CH4 + 2O2 -> CO2 + 2H2O.

High Isp, low density, difficult cryogenic handling. Simplified reaction: 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O.

Dense booster propellant. Kerosene is a hydrocarbon mixture; C12H26 is often used as an approximation.

Composite solid propellants combine fuel binder and oxidizer in a grain. They are operationally simple but less controllable.

Ignite on contact, useful for spacecraft and upper stages, but toxicity and handling risk dominate operations.

Lower-toxicity alternatives are attractive for small spacecraft where handling and logistics matter.