Word: oxygenate
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...rocket fuel combines a chemical that oxidizes and an ingredient that burns. The propulsive energy released is measured as "specific impulse." Present combinations, e.g., liquid oxygen and kerosene, have a specific impulse of about 245 Ibs. Using liquid fluorine as the oxidizer instead of liquid oxygen would boost specific impulse to between...
...coming jet age will also bring a new safety problem: the possibility of failure of plane pressurization at high altitudes. As a safeguard, the Civil Aeronautics Board ruled last week that all jetliners flying above 25,000 ft. (and almost all jets will) must carry oxygen masks for all their passengers in case of emergency. Manufacturers have installed "automatic presentation" systems in all jets, so that the pilot can make each passenger's mask pop out of an overhead compartment by pressing a button. All the passenger has to do is hold the rubber cup over his nose...
Sneak Killer. Among other things that Balke & Co. studied was sensitivity to an excess of carbon dioxide in the inhaled air. Odorless and tasteless, COo can be a sneak killer: if something went wrong with his oxygen-recycling system or its indicator, a busy spaceman might not notice it until too late. In the altitude chamber, first Balke and then the airmen mounted an Exercycle. Disguised like Martians in a spirometer (breathing measurement) mask, they pedaled frantically off to nowhere...
...With the oxygen circuit closed, and their metabolism rising with exertion, they sent the CO2 level soaring at a rate of 1% a minute (normal at sea level: about one-thirtieth of 1%). In ten minutes, the C02 level was nudging 12%. This .was about the limit. But Dr. Balke found that his conditioned subjects kept full consciousness longer than lowlanders. Also, they sensed more quickly (thanks to training) the reflexes that indicate the onset of CO2 giddiness. So they would have more time to do something about it. Aside from advantages in regard to the bends...
...Space Age slang for feeling symptoms caused by hypoxia (insufficient oxygen...