spaceshipone

[Thunderbird]

Just look at the smoke coming from the tailpipe; black as fuckin charcoal. It certainly isn't sugar and spice and everything nice that's for sure. We're likely talking major carcinogens here.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6228-5254303-2.html

"Best of all, the hybrid engine's chemical byproducts are water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen, which are less toxic than the shuttle boosters' byproducts."

I think the black smoke might be particles of partially combusted rubber compound, or just carbon black.

I'd have to agree with Guden, the first time I saw the thing flying there was a ton of black some pouring out of it. I would think buring rubber has to release more than carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen.

 

[epicstruggle]

time for facts:
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/sso_fuel_techwed_040616.html

SpaceShipOne burns a material called hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), a common ingredient in tire rubber, as fuel with nitrous oxide serving as the oxidizer. According to press statements by Scaled, the combination was chosen for SpaceShipOne after a lengthy study into potential engine systems.

The system also touts a somewhat cleaner way to reach space. Its byproducts -- water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen -- are a bit more preferable than the waste produced by shuttle SRBs, which burn ammonium perchlorate and aluminum.

epic