THIOKOL ROCKET & MISSILE PROPELLANT SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS "CAREFUL DIETS FOR MISSILES" FILM 51934

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Flames shoot from a rocket thrust booster and workers add fuel to cylinders in the opening moments of “Careful Diets for Missiles” as a narrator dramatically proclaims, “Food - for the hungry bellies of rockets and missiles. Their diets are critical. The big jobs eat a lot and mixing it by hand isn't good enough anymore.” With that, the logo for Toledo Scales appears onscreen (mark 01:20) and we’re transported to aerospace manufacturer Thiokol Chemical Corporation in Utah while being told how the two companies worked together to automate the process. Engineers work at control consoles in this early 1960s production while others tinker with circuitry “to do a big job with care and precision.” Solid propellant are shown being mixed in vats and beginning at mark 02:48 we learn the three stages of creating solid propellant, beginning with mixing aluminum power and polymer into a pre-mix, then forming it into an oxidizer, and finally combining the mixture and oxidizer into a final mix. The film continues by detailing each step of the process with the narration illustrated by matching scenes. Come mark 06:56, it is explained how an epoxy also is added to the final mix and we learn about the four final mix operations - each one performed in separate buildings and all monitored from a remote location “by one man.” A controller turns a key at mark 09:10 to unlock the master control console while also checking quality control sheets. The grayish product is seen at mark 12:05 while the narrator explains, “Solid propellant - a meticulous food for giant, monolithic space boosters ready to protect a nation or send vehicles hurdling into space to find the promise of tomorrow.”
Thiokol was an American corporation concerned initially with rubber and related chemicals, and later with rocket and missile propulsion systems. It was founded in 1929. Its initial business was a range of synthetic rubber and polymer sealants, and Thiokol was a major supplier of liquid polymer sealants during World War II. When scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered that Thiokol's polymers made ideal binders for solid rocket fuels, Thiokol moved into the new field, opening laboratories at Elkton, Maryland, and later production facilities at Elkton and at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville produced the XM33 Pollux, TX-18 Falcon, and TX-135 Nike-Zeus systems. It closed in 1996. In the mid-1950s the company bought extensive lands in Utah for its rocket test range, and in 1986 was found at fault for the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the deaths of its astronauts. Thiokol continues to have major operations in the state, at Magna and Promontory (manufacture of the Space Shuttle's solid rocket motors), and its current headquarters at Brigham City. As of 2005 the company employed over 15,000 people worldwide and records annual sales of around US$840 million.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@ThePiquedPigeon]

Boy do I love this video!! It feels like a sci-fi movie rather than a company movie! The music sounds like it's straight out of a Thunderbirds episode, and I love such details as the Scratch-like programming boards at 7:19, like punched cards but "rewritable", and of course the colorful "graphic displays", which are literally painted boards reproducing the various production plants with measuring instruments stuck in them!! What a lovely, lovely treat!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Great comment. Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@julybliss4440]

Was thinking same thing.

[@bladder1010]

Old-school industrial instrumentation and control. Nice!

[@lestergillis8171]

It's all analog.

[@bladder1010]

@@lestergillis8171 Correct!

[@zapfanzapfan]

Baking a cake with some unusual ingredients :-)

[@geomodelrailroader]

and those ingredients are the fuel for the solid rocket boosters.

[@kateschwartz1965]

My Dad took great pride in the work he did until his retirement. He didn't always like the policy changes when the company changed hands (4 or 5 times over his career). But he always loved knowing what he did helped change the world. I always enjoyed the family days every couple of years when we got to go see where he worked. Made me proud of him and proud of my country.

[@j3o5h8n5j5a3y8]

"sealing the container is critical" Note the special coffee cup port closure device at 5:23

[@Nighthawke70]

The paper cup is there for good reason. They would not want anyone to try to clean the coverplate due to the fact it might cause an explosion and fire. So they use paper to use one and dispose of properly. Most likely incineration. Waxed paper in explosives manufacturing is necessary. They insulate and don't generate a static field. Plastics like Saran Wrap come charged up with massive amounts of static electricity, which is a major no-no. They use waxed paper and ordinary paper products in fireworks making too. Not one bit of plastic or phenolic type material is see in any of "How it's Made" films of making explosive. Same with this one.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

@Foxtrot Uniform that’s Amerika, more capital for the Plutocrats. .

[@shadovanish7435]

@Alternative Power Systems These cups were probably contract built, & have a Gov't National Stock Number (NSN). I imagine the cups also are stenciled with "Not for the containment of beverages, hot or cold".

[@ellenbryn]

Oh gosh I'd forgotten the incredible colors of those buildings with the breakaway walls in case one had to evacuate in a hurry. (That architectural detail impressed me). I don't recall such dramatic music at Thiokol's Maryland facility, however! :D

[@jmarler2010]

When did you work there? Did you by chance know Larry Marler?

[@geomodelrailroader]

you mean Elkton Controls? that plant was in Secret of the Old Mill they still have that fence around the plant.

[@densealloy]

I used to work for ATK, Thiokol's successor. Different division (ammo and military equipment), but it was cool working for the company that makes solid rocket boosters.

[@geomodelrailroader]

so you knew my uncle and my cousins they still work there.

[@ellenbryn]

@@geomodelrailroader Big company; he might not. My Dad retired when Alcoa bought out Thiokol; he started out in the lab at the Elkton plant and was up to senior management in Utah by the time they eased him out. I loved the ginormous cake mixer at the Elkton plant for the STAR motors and what looked like actual bakery mixers they used in the lab when mixing up small batches for teeny tiny test motors.

[@geomodelrailroader]

@@ellenbryn yup and my uncle just retired from the plant last year my cousin still works there. Too bad Project Omega got the axe but SLS is still being built at the Utah plant. Elkton was in the book Secret of the Old Mill and that incident where they had a fire in the mix building did happen luckily the plant did not blowup like what happened at Pepcon in Vegas.

[@jeanettewest]

I was teaching chemistry and math at a community college when I was approached by the physics professor who wanted to start a rocketry program for his STEM students. I began getting formulations and vendors for the chemicals. I am probably on every watch database the U.S. has. :) I was able to get a 400 pound drum of potassium perchlorate donated, just pay the freight, by Thiokol! We made simple 2" diameter ABS tube walled rockets with water-putty nozzles that would make 110# of thrust. The first test we ran the physics prof told me, "you may want to cover your ears"....we were 30-feet away behind a parked Suburban. DAMM they were loud little things! Yup, rockets are a blast (no pun intended).

[@yelectric1893]

Impressive. You’re a great inspiration to those students. I’m a community college student myself studying to eventually work in aerospace somehow. A note of advice. Richard Mamma’s site has a lot of information on the construction of solid fuel engines through his experiments . I would highly suggest using steel walled engines as they won’t explode dangerously as easily if it does explode. Be careful, good luck, and have fun. Awesome!

[@geomodelrailroader]

always wanted to see how my uncle Terry makes the fuel and now I know. this same fuel is used in the side boosters for the SLS, the core of Project Omega, All stages of the Pegasus, all of the Minotaur rockets, and is the fuel of the Caster 30 rocket engine on the Cygnus spacecraft.

[@johnnylongfeather3086]

OmegA was cancelled

[@geomodelrailroader]

@@johnnylongfeather3086 I know but NASA will use the Omega boosters once Artimis 3 goes to the moon the last Shuttle boosters will be used on that rocket then they switch to Omega.

[@slowneutron6163]

That missile food isn't ugly. It looks utterly delicious.

[@rock3tcatU233]

Solid punch!

[@MrHeuristics]

Tolerance checks and logging weights. That's straight Thiokol Life, dog.

[@wlsnpndrvs8593]

A classmate of mine, give me some of grains that make up this propellant . They were a sickly yellowish brown 2 1/4 inches long, by around 3/ quarter of an inch, triangular grains. Mouldered when lit, leaving a gunpowder residue. In Tonopah Nevada

[@RonJohn63]

1:11 Someone really distorted the aspect ratio on this film.

[@garytherocketman9255]

I thought so too, but it was intended. Look at the perfect circle that is part of the logo for Toledo Scale. If it were that badly distorted, you would notice it throughout the film.

[@jmarler2010]

Fun fact ... my dad started his career as a research chemist in the aerospace industry in the very plant in this film while they filmed this. I keep looking to see if I can see him in the footage.

[@machadpe1]

Jeff Marler do you know when this video was recorded? 70s?

[@WineScrounger]

It would be mad if you could. Is he in there?

[@SouthKratts]

Oh that's so cool! Any fun stories from being on the job?

[@jmarler2010]

@@WineScrounger I looked several times but I could not see him. He would've been in the lab or loading rocket motors with the finish propellant.

[@jmarler2010]

@@machadpe1 I'm guessing late 60s, but I don't know for sure. It was right outside of Ogden Utah.

[@gove4103]

What is that thing the guy is putting together at 7:19 ? I've never seen anything like that before, and it isn't obvious how it interfaces with the process.

[@trespire]

@Brian J Govern This is an early version of ROM ( read only memory ). Essentially what we see is a "breadboard" with interchangeable components, by which the programming is achieved. By the look of the components they seem to be ceramic resistors in the 2 to 8 watt range. I presume the resistors are selected for precise values from a batch, then color coded for easy identification by the breadboard programmer. When inserted into the backplane reader unit, the analog computer will read the values and use them as variables.

[@joshocht3483]

@@trespire Indeed. In those day's the (analog) signal coming from the scale where compared with these 'presettings' (... when the were 'equal') ... the next product get poored in ... and so on. Principle see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatstone_bridge

[@dbx1233]

That rocket fuel is some bad medicine. Usan Bolt used to add this stuff to his breakfast cereal on the mornings when he would have a big race. His performances speak for themselves.

[@Dryootube]

these videos are cool

[@josephastier7421]

9:07 "Energize"

[@D2DHQ7105]

I can do this in my shed now.

[@nunyabusiness8538]

toledo scales will last forever

[@jefflyon2020]

That was awesome stuff, powdered aluminum is nasty, unruly, and dangerously sticky! look what's inside a kids etch-a-sketch, i am almost positive the secret in that toy is this stuff, and imagine 5000pounds of it mixed with a corrosive and flammible oxidizing agent!

[@FractAlkemist]

At 2:03 - 'solid state circuitry, button logic" !? How'd they get anything done with that stuff ....

[@buckstarchaser2376]

I wonder if that aluminum and polymer (or some other carrier) mix would be of benefit as a roof coating. While it was being poured, it sure looked like it would reject some solar heating. Not sure if it would work as insulation in the winter though.

[@ryanchristopherson374]

It would definitely keep a house warm once it caught fire.

[@Nighthawke70]

Erm, unless you want to emulate the fate of the HINDENBURG... Google Mythbusters and HINDENBURG, and see for yourself. That stuff is nasty.

[@buckstarchaser2376]

@Nighthawke70 @@ryanchristopherson374 I'm talking specifically about the segment at 2:45, where it shows an Aluminum and Polymer "pre-mix". Obviously, I'm not referring to the later stage, where it receives the powerful oxidizer needed to turn it into rocket fuel. Aluminum Oxide and Epoxy, stuck to paper is commonly known as "Sandpaper", and is not known for flammability, even when used at high-enough speeds to set wood projects on fire. The premise is that: When the top surface of the combined material becomes abraded from weathering and necessary maintenance work contact, the polymer (usually asphalt in commercially produced roof systems and shingles) will tend to oxidize and degrade. By having a durable material such as aluminum oxide mixed into it, rather than the common marble fines from quarries sprinkled on top, each phase of the material's life, where the surface is degraded simply reveals a new layer of aluminum oxide... Which is exceptionally hard and chemically passivated by the oxidation on its surface. In the event of acid rain (and even CO2 dissolved in rain, which makes that rain slightly acidic) decomposing the aluminum powder on the surface (which is the natural procedure for how clay happens), it will simply expose more asphalt/polymer binder for a fairly predictable product lifespan. The lifespan could thus be selected and set on any given roof or non-pedestrian surface, by modeling environmental factors of that given surface, and applying a prescribed material thickness for each roof zone. ...or, you could just continue to do the same, simple techniques and products that currently squander valuable petrochemicals, and give highly variable results, but still have the same very-low fire risk inherent in slathering your roof in refined petroleum distillates.

[@bruce92106]

Is Thiokol still producing SRBs specifically for NASAs Orion SLS today?

[@SteelyEyedMissileDan]

Yes, but they're part of Northrop Grumman now.

[@LichaelMewis]

Anyone know when this was made?

[@Nono-hk3is]

Color coding, you say?

[@dsandoval9396]

I like the little timer at the bottom of the screen, makes me feel like I'm watching something like a top secret DARPA film only meant for government officials with the highest clearance.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Here's the issue: Tens of thousands of films similar to this one have been lost forever -- destroyed -- and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like these online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. In the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous KZbin users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content! We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to spend precious time dealing with policing thievery -- and not what we devoted ourselves to do. Love our channel and want to support what we do? You can help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@qwerdasfuhgeo6248]

Why is there no transcript??

[@daviddavenport1485]

Cold War technology at its finest!

[@SuperDave-vj9en]

Does anyone know the ratio of aluminum to ammonium perchlorate? What kind of resin and binder? Just a rubbery mix? Please help.

[@bbelcher4355]

There are several but one that will be easy to do, 70%AP/15%GEsilicone 2/5%aluminum Try some of the dark aluminum for a bit more power but Aluminum flake seems to work okay. Most formulas use some kind of catalyst, 1%red iron oxide would be about the usual.

[@SuperDave-vj9en]

B Belcher Thanks for your help! 🙏

[@accipiternisus649]

75AP/15Al/10binder

[@TheExplosiveGuy]

polybutadiene acrylonitrile (PBAN) polymer. It's a non-urethane rubber binder that holds the mixture together and acts as a secondary fuel. You more or less follow the steps used in this video, weigh your components, mix the polymer portion of the epoxy (aka don't add hardener) with the aluminum and iron oxide, then mix in your ammonium perchlorate, blend completely, then add the hardener and blend again. I don't remember the cure time, I think you have a number of hours of working time but I'm not sure. Best to be done quickly. You can use a counter top stand mixer like a kitchen aid to do all your blending but make sure you clean the living shit out of that bowl before the epoxy cures if you intend to use it for food again heh. Make sure to really blend the mixture (30 min+ at each step, aside from the final mixing of the two rocket fuel/epoxy components which needs to be done fairly quickly, probably 10 minutes or so), since all the components are granular and cannot be dissolved before mixing like some amateur rocket fuels. Ideally you want a molecular mix, that is each component is touching the other two components at a molecular level so the reaction is as energetic and efficient as possible. But, since the components are granular we have to settle for blending the shit out of the mix. If done properly you can make some seriously badass amateur rockets. Even making small pieces to light and throw in the air is very entertaining, you never know what the darned things are gonna do. Fly 50 feet in a straight line away from you, fly 10 feet away from you whip a bitch and literally rocket towards your face, fly in a loop over your head, fly straight up while spinning in a fast and tight arc, the results are endlessly entertaining. Nickel-size pieces work best.

[@Nighthawke70]

@@TheExplosiveGuy Someone has got their HPR certs. :)

[@rustyrebar9647]

So... this is how table salt is made???

[@theq4602]

I'd love to get into designing and building SRBs and or running a fuel casting plant for them. I have several ideas I think could give them a comeback for widespread use in space launch platforms. If given the opportunity I'd love to start a new company building them. I'd need to attend a suitable college to gain expertise in them first however.

[@Nighthawke70]

Well, you'd be up against a virtual monopoly of manufacturers there. You'd have better luck in the hobby rocket motor business, if you can build a better motor than the rest of them, for a decent retail price. And keep it within ITAR and National Association of Rocketry regulations and standards.

[@MM0IMC]

Where was the plant in Utah, that exploded? I think it was nearly 20 years ago. It made SRB fuel.

[@jimurrata6785]

Pepcon was in Henderson Nevada at the time (34 years ago) and produced ammonium perchlorate. Because the SLS had been sidelined quite a lot of material was stored in less than ideal conditions.

[@boydredingtonii9217]

@@jimurrata6785 Pepcon also had a plant explode outside of Cedar City where the plant relocated after the incident in Henderson.

[@jimurrata6785]

@@boydredingtonii9217 Thank you! I wasn't aware they'd had another 'incident' Only of the huge explosion in Henderson because it affected the availability of AP for the whole country.

[@jaredfarris7898]

I was one of the mix building in Promontory, cannot remember the exact building identification, but I have seen it. I currently work for Northrop Grumman (got higher on when it was Orbital ATK) who now owns the plant. I am X-Ray inspection Technician there.

[@johnroutledge9220]

Is it just me, or does this look and sound like an episode of Thunderbirds?

[@uwtitanfan]

sounds like don pardo announcing

[@sandmanbub]

@Whoop!!

[@fixinggrace]

Fired off an Estes model rocket in 1982 and didn’t need all this mumbo jumbo.

[@Nighthawke70]

Estes uses black powder mixed with a binder. Not a drop of this modern stuff - tooo powerful! If you search for M Class rocket motor making, you'll see cheerful lunatics loading tubes with powered aluminum propellants, with special additives to make that special sparkle or smoke color.

[@joshjones3408]

With pepcon in the past bet they wish they knew the future then about how things would end up👍👍👍

[@Convertscafe]

so getting to the moon was just like making a nice latte ;) just ALOT more explosive haha

[@EV150]

Not really. They used liquid propellant engines to get to the moon.

[@HooyahPeacock]

HD AND 2k!

[@littlehills739]

wonder how the epoxy works wasnt 2 part --- so time based

[@Zoomer30_]

Whomever founded the company Toledo Scales probably owns a private island.

[@jhyland87]

button logic.... lol

[@whorton4]

Well, except for those occasional moments, when despite all the planning and consideration,. . .Lets just say one OH-SHIT cancels it all: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXzYeJywd893jtE

[@AirCrash1]

Now when they make this stuff they move it around like it is table salt, leave it outside, stack it in 1000 ton drum stacks and every now and then blow up the plant. Google "Pepcon explosion" to see how it is handled today.

[@ryanchristopherson374]

How it is handled today? You do know that's wrong. Pepcon happened for a host of reasons, one of them being the Challenger disaster shutdown of shuttle flights during the investigation. Try some research before posting this kind of comment.

[@AirCrash1]

@@ryanchristopherson374 All truth, try electing a president with an IQ greater than 50, so you wont be the laughing stock of the world. Idiot nation. Research before voting.

[@ryanchristopherson374]

Would you kindly explain what a single word of your reply had to do with my comment? At all?

[@AirCrash1]

@@ryanchristopherson374 Pepcon happened because of sloppy and negligent handling of chemicals, that's a fact, only dumb as a post Americans would claim otherwise.

[@ryanchristopherson374]

It also happened 32 years ago. This hardly matches your description of "now".

[@motorhead6763]

no smoking

[@geomodelrailroader]

big time this is Northrup Grumman's plant the same operation goes on at Elkton Controls in Bayport Maryland which they also own.

[@mattmcnamara184]

Worked there in the late 80s. Unbelievably, smoking was allowed almost everywhere INSIDE buildings! All the NO SMOKING signs were at the EXITS! No smoking outside! You can actually see a glass ashtray on the control panel desk in this film!

[@lestergillis8171]

It looks like an elephant took a dump.

[@wlsnpndrvs8593]

Oops. Wrong srb. Space shuttle srbs

[@BushyHairedStranger]

1986-Morton Thiokol spells Mkultra! Space Shuttle Challenger was a CIA hit! Cou Cou Ca Chew!

[@mercoid]

Music: The Bastard Patrol by Dick Bastard! Narrator: Frank Uptight

[@danr5105]

Pretty darn dramatic, for making solid fuel.

[@a64738]

Rocket fuel IS pretty darn dramatic ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXzYeJywd893jtE

[@Nighthawke70]

It is a marketing film for both the quality Toledo Scale Company and the legendary Thiokol Propulsion Company (now Northrup Grumman). So they took license on being dramatic.

[@lestergillis8171]

That elephant must have been REALLY sick.

[@yetizero5563]

перхлорат аммония

[@maplemanz]

Probably is a superficial site today.

[@MikeHunt-rw4gf]

Algorithm.

[@jetlaw_1]

If you’re going to post a video that you clearly didn’t produce, then the least you could do is omit the watermark and useless perpetual time stamp.

[@SMHman666]

Josh Fenton He can't. He has explained this before in other videos as it gets mentioned a lot. It's a pain in the ass but it's the only way he can get the films.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Here's the issue: Tens of thousands of films similar to this one have been lost forever -- destroyed -- and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like these online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. In the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous KZbin users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content! We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to spend precious time dealing with policing thievery -- and not what we devoted ourselves to do. Love our channel and want to support what we do? You can help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@LifesVoyager]

Ridiculous music and intonation.

[@vargohoat9950]

the farther back in time you go, the more ridiculous it gets

[@mike62mcmanus]

I come just for the music, coolio daddio.

[@ryanchristopherson374]

It's a training film All training films have ridiculous music and intonation. It's a law, or something.

[@alexandrpetrov1110]

Old-school industrial instrumentation and control. Nice!