NASA fluorine rig - photo

[Altair]

NASA fluorine rig and Hortonsphere, c. 1960. Full caption: "FLUORINE RIG AT NASA PLUM BROOK STATION A SITE".

The Materials Compatibility Facility (J-5), also known as the Fluorine Hydraulics Laboratory, was designed to test the durability of materials subjected to high-pressure fluorine or fluorine-oxygen flow." "The J-5 dynamic materials compatibility test rig was enclosed in a 38-ft-diameter steel hortonsphere that had a poured-concrete floor to provide a level working surface."

Fullsize image: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...g_fullsize.jpg


More:

https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/wp-content...ebsite-PDF.pdf

Previously:

Elemental gases in front of a Tesla coil - GIF
NASA boiling fluids rig - photo
NASA robotic manufacturing system - GIF
NASA water deluge rocket launch system - GIF
NASA spray testing tower - photo

[DIYSwede]

-Ah, yes. The ballsy guys at Plum Brook. Quite a colorful bunch, trying to get NERVA (Nuclear Energy for Rocket Vehicle Operation) aloft after dissing more "run-of-the-mill" propellants... Of course they had to be into Flourine chemistry also...
Some history of Plum Brook: https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/wp-content...ebsite-PDF.pdf

For some more info on some "intrepid chemistry for rocket propulsion" check out this previous post:
Muriatic Acid - sealed, in a bag, in a steel drawer - looks like rust under the bag!?
or jump straight into this 233 page pdf book "Ignition!" by John D Clark: https://library.sciencemadness.org/l...s/ignition.pdf