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From: mjohnson@encad.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mark Johnson)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Unmanned w/old SRBs (was Re: space news from July 11 AW&ST)
Summary: cleaning out SRM cases
Message-ID: <479@encad.Wichita.NCR.COM>
Date: 26 Sep 88 17:27:55 GMT
References: <1988Aug16.040406.5434@utzoo.uucp> <6137@dasys1.UUCP> <1988Sep24.053829.16201@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: NCR Corporation, Wichita, Kansas
Lines: 27

In article <1988Sep24.053829.16201@utzoo.uucp>, henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes:
> In article <484@c10sd1.StPaul.NCR.COM> johnson@c10sd1.StPaul.NCR.COM (Wayne D. T. Johnson) writes:
> >... why not remove the oxidizer from the
> >old segments and put it into the new ones?  
> 
> available for re-use.  As far as I know, there's no other safe way of
> cleaning them out.


Why not use the method which the AF and its contractors use to renew the
solid propellant in the Minuteman missiles every ten years or so?  The
motors are cleaned out by the use of a high pressure water jet, which can
cut the rubbery perchlorate/polymer material without any ignition risk
such as a mechanical cutting tool would entail.

Many if not all of the Minuteman birds currently installed in silos have
been cleaned out and reloaded this way at least once. It also allows updating
the propellant technology to the latest available. Solid fuel mixes have been
fairly constant in composition but some advances do take place (higher energy
binders, new tricks with combustion accleration/retardation, etc)

Fuel for the flames from...
-- 
Mark Johnson (Mark.Johnson@Wichita.NCR.COM)
NCR Engineering & Manufacturing-Wichita, KS  phone: (316)636-8189    
email:...!rutgers!hplabs!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrwic!encad!mjohnson 
US snailnet: 3718 N. Rock Rd., Wichita, KS 67226