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Mahesh

14/09/24 10:37 AM IST

What is helium and why is it used in rockets?

In News
  • SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, which finally launched recently, was delayed because of helium issues on ground equipment.
Helium use on Spacecraft
  • Helium is inert — it does not react with other substances or combust — and its atomic number is 2, making it the second lightest element after hydrogen.
  • Rockets need to achieve specific speeds and altitude to reach and maintain orbit.
  • A heavier rocket requires more energy, not only increasing fuel consumption but also needing more powerful engines, which are more expensive to develop, test, and maintain.
  • Helium has a very low boiling point (– 268.9 degree Celsius), allowing it to remain a gas even in super-cold environments, an important feature because many rocket fuels are stored in that temperature range.
  • Helium is used to pressurise fuel tanks, ensuring fuel flows to the rocket’s engines without interruption; and for cooling systems.
  • As fuel and oxidiser are burned in the rocket’s engines, helium fills the resulting empty space in the tanks, maintaining the overall pressure inside.
  • Because it is non-reactive, it can safely mingle with the tanks’ residual contents.
Helium leaks
  • Helium’s small atomic size and low molecular weight mean its atoms can escape through small gaps or seals in storage tanks and fuel systems.
  • But because there is very little helium in the Earth’s atmosphere, leaks can be easily detected — making the gas important for spotting potential faults in a rocket or spacecraft’s fuel systems.
  • The frequency of helium leaks across space-related systems, some engineers say, have highlighted an industry-wide need for innovation in valve design and more precise valve-tightening mechanisms.
Source- Indian Express

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