image

V-2 rocket pipe plan, drawn in 1946. This rocket, which was the first manmade object to enter space, was used as an offensive weapon by Nazi Germany. This is a plan of its internal pipes. Ethyl alcohol (yellow) and liquid oxygen fuel (blue) are delivered to a large thrust chamber (bottom left) using rotary pumps driven by a steam turbine. The reaction in the thrust chamber can propel it to a speed of 1300 metres per second and a height of 97 kilometres. The rocket would only burn for around 60 seconds, acting as a supersonic projectile for the rest of the flight. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY) === ===