Gargamel
04-25-17, 09:47 AM
I recently started a new job at a plastics company. (One word, "plastics"). On the way into my interview I noticed a hue scale model of Space Ship 2 in the lobby. Huge being, 12 feet high standing on it's tail. I learned that some of the parts on the ship that crashed were produced by this company. I thought that was cool, but didn't think much of it, as they make high strength low weight nylon based machine parts, so I figured it was just a gear or a bushing or something.
Tonight, one of the maintenance guys asks me to help get something off a a pallet.
http://i.imgur.com/URb3FJd.jpg
After we get it flipped up on it's side, he informs me this is the actual rocket motor that was on Space Ship 2 when it crashed.
I totally geeked out for a while on this. There were 4-5 sections like this. They were trying to get the aluminum tube out of the center so they could chop up the remaining nylon and sell it for scrap. That kinda blew my mind as, the nylon is the actual rocket fuel the motor burns. A combination of methane and NO2 is pumped through the open sections to create the oxidation reaction (or so says my research).
I love aerospace and science, and to be able to touch an actual piece of history like this left me in awe.
Here's a pic of an unused section.
http://i.imgur.com/t1SuHAr.jpg
Not sure if they are scrapping this one or not too, but it seems to be too exposed to accidental damage to be used in a motor, IMO.
Total geek out evening for me.
Here's how the engine is laid out in the craft:
http://cdn.parabolicarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ss2_propulsion_system.jpg
And if you browse through the crash photos, you can occasionally see the motor in the debris.
If I get the chance, I might claim a small piece of the motor for myself. I thought this might be a little macabre, but as they are scrapping these parts, I figured saving a tiny bit for posterity wouldn't be in bad taste. It's not like I'm selling the pieces for profit.
Tonight, one of the maintenance guys asks me to help get something off a a pallet.
http://i.imgur.com/URb3FJd.jpg
After we get it flipped up on it's side, he informs me this is the actual rocket motor that was on Space Ship 2 when it crashed.
I totally geeked out for a while on this. There were 4-5 sections like this. They were trying to get the aluminum tube out of the center so they could chop up the remaining nylon and sell it for scrap. That kinda blew my mind as, the nylon is the actual rocket fuel the motor burns. A combination of methane and NO2 is pumped through the open sections to create the oxidation reaction (or so says my research).
I love aerospace and science, and to be able to touch an actual piece of history like this left me in awe.
Here's a pic of an unused section.
http://i.imgur.com/t1SuHAr.jpg
Not sure if they are scrapping this one or not too, but it seems to be too exposed to accidental damage to be used in a motor, IMO.
Total geek out evening for me.
Here's how the engine is laid out in the craft:
http://cdn.parabolicarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ss2_propulsion_system.jpg
And if you browse through the crash photos, you can occasionally see the motor in the debris.
If I get the chance, I might claim a small piece of the motor for myself. I thought this might be a little macabre, but as they are scrapping these parts, I figured saving a tiny bit for posterity wouldn't be in bad taste. It's not like I'm selling the pieces for profit.