The V2 engine burn chamber temperature was about 2,700☌ (4,900☏). After checking to ensure the propulsion was working properly, the burn speed was then raised and cables electromagnetically disconnected. The mixture ignited, whereupon a temperature of 2,500☌ (4500☏) at 15 Bar (220psi) pressure was reached - but this was not enough to lift the V2. This turbine powered two pumps that injected the ethyl alcohol at 23 Bar (330psi) pressure via 1224 nozzles (58 kg/sec / 130lb/sec) and liquid oxygen at 17.5 Bar (250 psi) via 2160 nozzles (72 kg/sec / 160lb/sec) into the burn chamber at 23 Bar (330psi). This caused the turbine to rotate at 3,800rpm. The building houses an excellent, thoughtful and nuanced museum.Īfter everything was set, pressurised air (at 32 Bar / 460psi) pushed the hydrogen peroxide and the sodium permanganate into the 430kW (580hp) turbine. The power station is the only large building that remains at Peenemünde – the laboratories, supersonic wind tunnels and accommodation now all gone. The cables remained connected until launch, batteries taking care of power supply during flight. Electrical cables were then connected and gyroscopes powered-up by 28 Volts / 60 Amps, DC. The air batteries and nitrogen batteries were filled up to 200 Bar (2900psi) pressure, and after this process the rocket weighed 12700kg (28,000lb). It was then fuelled with 4900kg (10,0800lb) of 'A-Stoff' (liquid oxygen with a temperature of -183☌ / -297☏), and 3710kg (8,200lb) of a mixture of 75% ethyl alcohol and 25% water, called 'B-Stoff'. The V2 rose to an altitude of 83 - 93km (52 – 58mi) and had a range of 320 - 360km (200 – 225mi).īefore launch, the empty V2 weighed 4500kg (10,000lb). The motor typically burned for 60 seconds, pushing the rocket to around 4,800km/h (3,000mph). This system generated about 25,000kg (55,000lb) of thrust at the start, which increased to 73,000kg (160,000lb) when the maximum speed was reached. The steam turbine operated at 5,000rpm and was powered by two auxiliary fuels, namely hydrogen peroxide (80%) and a mixture of 66% sodium permanganate and 33% water. The two liquids were delivered to the thrust chamber by two rotary pumps, driven by a steam turbine. It was propelled by alcohol and liquid oxygen fuel. For guidance it used an advanced gyroscopic system that sent signals to aerodynamic steering tabs on the tail fins and vanes in the exhaust. The V2 was the first unmanned guided ballistic missile. It was so advanced that immediately after the war, the US, Britain and the USSR had no idea how the rocket worked or how it was even fired. It provided technology that was directly responsible for the USA's success in the post-war space race. The V2 rocket was not only one of the most awesome weapons of World War II, it was also the first long-range ballistic missile to be actively used in combat. World’s first long-range ballistic missile The fact that this achievement was the product of the ruthless regime of Nazi Germany and the fact that many thousands of people died as a result of its production and deployment, taint the image of what otherwise would be considered a monumental triumph. The drive, energy and resourcefulness of General Dornberger, mated with the ingenuity and passion of von Braun, created one of the greatest technological achievements of the last century. This rocket is at Peenemünde in Germany, at the site of the original research establishment.ĭevoted Nazi General Walter Dornberger and German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun were two men with a vision. Every rocket that has followed owes a debt to its design. The Nazi V2 rocket was the first modern rocket, and was decades ahead of every other country in the world.
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