Hydrazine is toxic and carcinogenic

Simple small molecule, N2H4, hopefully it will rapidly diffuse @ 100 mi. up.

Made from hypochlorite (bleach) and ammonia, - the mixing of which which we all, except for few, know is a big No-No. Those few,less than brilliant, compulsive cleaners usually end up in ER’s throughout the country coughing, short of breath, with watery eyes with rashes and very uncomfortable and possible very ill.

Hydrazine itself as well as methylated hydrazine (unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, monomethyl hydrazine) is/has been used externsively as liquid propellant (”biopropellant) on Apollo moon lander, orbital maneuvering systems on the the Voyagers as well as the Space Shuttle. Packs quite a wallop, I guess, when mixed with an oxidizer.

It was even used on the Messerschmitts in the 1940’s where the hydrazine was mixed with methanol as one ingredient called, “C-Stoff”. This was added to the “high test peroxide” called, believe it or not “T-Stoff”, with “Z-Stoff” as a catalyst to generate the propulsion. Acording to Wikipedia, the Germans had to ”

“create a complex testing system … to make sure that each fuel was put into the correct tanks of the Messerschmitt Me 163, as an improper loading would cause the aircraft to explode.”

The oxidized hyrdrazine is used as a “blowing agent” in many processes, including automobile airbags.

Hydrazine derivitives have been used as medicines to control blood pressure (hydralazine) or to treat TB (iproniazid). When treating TB with that last agent it was noted that the patients became “inappropriately happy” ?= , and it was marketed briefly for depression in 1958.

A derivitive is produced naturally by the mushroom “Gyromitra esculenta” which has - to me - the very unconfortable common name of the False Morel. I never eat mushrooms because of the rare but potential risk of poisoning. Previous to my “Wiki-romp”, I had thought that morels were distinctive enough in appearance to make an exception, but “False Morels”, !?!, no more.

As far as hydrazine’s uses in space - which sound quite widespread” there may be good news, as the ESA is working on a “greener” propellant. Until then, we face the prospect of additional hydrazine satellites falling to earth with toxic carcinogenic results, although perhaps a little bit cleaner, and the survivors possibly “inappropriately happy”.

farstarz

Besides that, a very informative post.