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Asked by tend20sat to Sally, Mmboyi, Mike, Michael, Jacinta, Gliday, Elkana, Edna, Arnold on 17 Jul 2025.
Question: What materials and chemicals are used in making a rocket
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Jacinta Nzilani answered on 17 Jul 2025:
Hey,
🔩 Materials Used to Build a Rocket
These materials must be strong but light, so the rocket can fly high without breaking.Aluminum alloys – Lightweight and strong; used for the rocket’s body (like a metal skeleton).
Titanium – Very strong and heat-resistant; used in engine parts.
Carbon fiber – Super light and strong; used in modern rockets.
Ceramics and heat-resistant tiles – Protect the rocket from extreme heat when re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
🔥 Chemicals Used to Power the Rocket
Rockets need fuel and oxidizers to create a powerful blast (called thrust).Liquid Oxygen (LOX) – Provides oxygen to burn the fuel in space.
Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) – A super-light and powerful fuel.
RP-1 – A special type of purified kerosene (like jet fuel).
Solid Propellants – Used in some rockets (like space shuttles); they’re a mix of fuel and oxidizer packed into a solid block.
💥 Fun Fact:
When fuel and oxidizer mix in the rocket engine, they explode in a controlled way, pushing the rocket upward with huge force -Newton’s 3rd Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction!
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Michael Kimwele answered on 21 Jul 2025:
Rockets are made using a combination of lightweight, heat-resistant, and high-strength materials along with powerful chemical propellants. The main structural components typically use aluminum alloys, titanium, or carbon-fiber composites for strength and low weight. The thermal protection system often includes materials like reinforced carbon-carbon or ceramic tiles to withstand the intense heat during launch and re-entry. Rocket fuel varies by type: liquid-fueled rockets use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen (cryogenic fuels) or RP-1 (refined kerosene) and liquid oxygen, while solid-fueled rockets use a mixture of powdered metals (like aluminum) and oxidizers (such as ammonium perchlorate) bound in a rubbery compound. These materials are carefully chosen to ensure maximum thrust, safety, and durability under extreme conditions.
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