Potash Plays a Part in Rocket Development
You may be familiar with the role crop nutrients are playing in fuel production – helping to grow corn for ethanol and soybeans for biodiesel – but did you know that potash actually plays a role as a substitute for rocket fuel?
"Potassium chloride has been used in the testing and formulation of propellants for some time." Kelly Egli, ATK Launch Systems Inc.
It turns out that potassium chloride – potash – has much of the same properties, and acts and cures in much the same manner, as one of the key ingredients used to make solid propellant found in most space-bound rockets, said Kelly Egli, Contracts Administrator for ATK Launch Systems Inc. in Brigham City, Utah. The potash replaces the oxidizer in the propellant formulation, creating a non-flammable inert motor, used to test the mechanical properties.
ATK is developing the Ares 1 reusable solid rocket booster system for the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Ares 1 rocket is part of NASA’s move to shut down its Space Shuttle program by 2010 and develop a new transportation system that can carry astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond, according to Egli.
"Potassium chloride has been used in the testing and formulation of propellants for some time, and PotashCorp has been a supplier for years," Egli said. "The potash we get from the company is useful because it is largely free of other minerals and contaminants."
Egli said ATK is also using potash to test another rocket system designed to launch satellites into orbit.
"Even though our purchase volumes are very low, the value of the information gained is very high," Egli said. "PotashCorp has been exceptional to work with and very accommodating with our unique requests. We couldn’t ask for a better supplier for this product."
"Comparatively, the amount of potash being ordered by ATK is not a huge part of our overall business, but it is exciting to see our products being used in the space program and to know that we’ve helped play a part in the next round of space exploration," said Sam Robinson, PotashCorp Manager National Accounts for the Industrial Products Group.
The first test flight of the Ares 1 rocket is scheduled for 2009.
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