Valve Hardware Hacker Makes DIY See-Through Rocket Engine

Did anyone else have trouble viewing the videos?

Not here. You can find some alternate links via Google (select 'Video' search). eg.

Thanks, that worked.

Interesting idea.

Couldn't help thinking how this might train some folk who would want to do other than "niceness" with it....

Coming to a peaceful corner of your world soon. Oh dear.

That fella's attempt to see an IC working was interesting. Can't wait till he perfects the method.

There are plenty of hybrid rockets around, since the beginning of rocketry. The largest and most noteworthy are the Space Shuttle boosters. When one's seal failed with tragic consequences, it was discussed in depth. Many military rockets are of this kind. The latest in the Pantheon of fame is the Spaceship One private craft crossing the 100km height, earning the pilots the first non-government space pilot wings.

The oxidiser, be it oxygen or nitric acid, allows throttling the thrust simply, with a single valve. The solid fuel can be formulated to burn at lower temperature, avoiding the need of exotic metals in the nozzle.

I wonder how this would work with a piece of bored timber or a dried corn cob with a hole gouged through its centre......

What other exotic fuels would work? A lump of acrylic like this guy used is too valuable and hard to source here.

The Space Shuttle ones were butyl rubber based, with what? I don't know. It needs to ablate from the heat, and the gases then burn. Wood alone does not ablate, hence it does not have the speed of burning up in a minute or less to be effective.

Soak the wood in creosote......