Why is Nitrous Oxide used as the oxidiser in commercial HPR hybrid rocket motors?
Nitrous Oxide (N2O), also known as Dinitrogen Monoxide, NOx or Laughing Gas, is used as the oxidiser in commercial HPR hybrid rocket motors because it is probably the easiest oxidiser to handle, easiest Oxidiser to store and most readily available oxidiser. Liquid Oxygen is cryogenic, and requires another level of safety in terms of cleanliness of equipment, cryogenic capable flow lines, etc. Hydrogen Peroxide is far harder to obtain in useful concentrations, and is a more reactive oxidiser capable of causing some nasty damage to organic material such as people.
