Word: potassium
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...plants that make Minuteman boosters are also reflections of solid-fuel simplicity. There is little machine work; most of the engine's comparatively few parts come prefabricated. Biggest part of the job is filling the casing with fuel, which is a secret liquid plastic compound mixed with crystalline potassium perchlorate to supply oxygen. The mixing is done in a plant that is mostly underground. A crane running on rails sets the empty booster casing upright in a square hole. Then an odd-looking little building mounted on rails moves over each casing and carefully pours it full of paste...