Technology / Rockets Glossary

Ablative: To wear away under stresses of heat, oxidation, and high velocity gas erosion.

Acceleration: Increasing velocity with time.

Additive: Propellant ingredient used to enhance physical or ballistic properties.

Aft: Tail end of vehicle.

Ammonium Perchlorate: Ammonium Perchlorate is used as an oxidizer in many composite rocket fuels. It is also the oxidizer which is used in the Space Shuttle's solid rocket boosters (SRB's). 68% of the of the spa . . . View Full Definition

Barricade: Sturdy structure meant to stop or deflect high velocity objects created in a test stand explosion.

Bates Grain: Tubular grain uninhibited on the ends which can provide a nearly neutral burning characteristic (BAtch TESt motor).

Binder: The rubbery fuel used in solid propellants - also in Hybrid fuels.

Blockhouse: Strong construction used to house personnel and instruments in a static or flight test. Generally has extremely durable overhead construction.

Blowdown: Pressurizing gas flowing through a fixed orifice with no other regulation to expel liquid propellants.

Boiler Plate Motor: A very solid overdesigned thrust chamber used to test new propellants or new injector concepts.

Bolt Circle: A ring of bolts used to hold a closure in place.

Bulkhead: A wall between two areas - in rocketry usually between two tanks, instrumentation sections or between motor chamber and tank.

Bunker: Less sophisticated observation area than a blockhouse. Generally has overhead protection to qualify as a bunker.

Burn Area: The actively burning surface of a rocket grain, either solid or hybrid.

Burning Rate: In solids, the rate at which the burning surface recedes as it combusts. Affected by pressure, temperature and the scrubbing of hot gases.

Burst Diaphragm: A thin (metal) disc which fails at a known pressure, releasing pressurant, fuel or oxidizer into flow lines.

Cables: In instrumentation, the shielded electrical lines which conduct signals from the transducers to the instrumentation recorders, amplifiers, DAS, etc. The shields are tied to one grounding point.

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