NEW METAL
THE HARDWARE
‘A thrust equivalent of
135,000hp is needed for
it to reach 1,610kph’
- HYBRID ROCKET
High-test peroxide run through a
catalyst turns into superheated steam
and oxygen to ignite and provide an
oxidizing agent for the solid propel-
lant in the Nammo rocket. Initial
thrust is from an EJ200 jet engine.
- TITanIum sKIn
The rear half of the Bloodhound uti-
lizes aircraft technology to provide the
required structural strength. A harder
alloy is used for the epoxy-bonded
skin, and a more malleable alloy forms
the curved lattice internal structures.
- CaRBOn mOnOCOquE
Using the same F1 technology from
the aircraft industry, the Bloodhound’s
front superstructure is designed to
keep driver Andy Green safe in the
event of a mishap. It also houses the
air inlet for the EJ200.
- alumInum WHEEls
Each custom aluminum-alloy forging
made from a solid piece weighs 95kg.
The 36-inch diameter explains the
weight. It will spin at 10,000rpm.
Andy Green made history
in 1997. He’s ready to do it
all over again. Crazy!
TECH TalKInG POInTs
the Bloodhound’s Mach 1.4 target speed. How
much power does it take to achieve 1,610kph?
The thrust equivalent to 135,000hp is how
much. If that sounds like a lot, consider that the
Bloodhound will take under 9 km to achieve the
target speed, meaning it will cross the measured
mile (1.6km) in just 3.6sec.
It will also take approximately the same
distance for the Bloodhound to come to a stop
from its terminal velocity. To achieve that, it
employs three kinds of braking systems apart
from the immense amount of drag that naturally
comes at those speeds. Airbrakes made from a
carbon-composite material will open when the
Bloodhound slows down to about 1,290kph,
with two braking parachutes available for
deployment should there be a need for quicker
deceleration.
Once the speed falls below 320 kph,
conventional friction brakes will kick in,
allowing the vehicle to stop in the turnaround
area, where it will be refueled and prepped to
make another run in the opposite direction. It
has to do one run in each direction (within an
hour of each other) to discount the effects of
head- and tailwinds and make the record official.
The wheels are another point of interest.
They’re solid forged aluminum alloys, and there
are no tires on them—the wheels are also the
‘tires.’ Reaching the target speed requires the
wheels to be spinning at over 10,000rpm; at that
speed, a rubber tire would be shredded almost
instantly. And that’s discounting the fact that at
1,610kph, any sort of dust or small solid tossed
back by the front wheels will hit the rear wheels
faster than most speeding bullets.
Which brings us back to the carbon tub
housing the driver. The rear half of the wheel
well is lined with ballistic composites to resist
the impact of debris. Should the debris happen
to break through the ballistic protection, a water
barrier absorbs the remaining energy of the
projectile, which might otherwise pierce the
HTP tank.
With so many risks involved in this endeavor,
you have to wonder why anyone would want
to do it at all. It could be for the sake of science
and technology, or to surpass existing limits.
But Richard Noble, former LSR holder (driving
the Thrust 2 ) and the Bloodhound SSC project
director, gave this answer: “For Britain and for
the hell of it.”
That’s perhaps the best reason of all.
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