Turning Energy Drinks Into Rocket Fuel

Hackaday highlights a recent demonstration where a tinkerer converted everyday energy drinks into solid rocket fuel. The technique, known as rocket candy, relies on the fact that the high sugar content in energy drinks—when combined with potassium nitrate as an oxidizer—can fuel a rocket. The process requires removing both the liquid and the carbonation from the drink before mixing in the oxidizer. While this DIY rocket fuel method has been demonstrated before, it carries serious safety risks; as makers in this space note, the line between a working rocket and an explosive device is uncomfortably thin.

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