Hydrogen-peroxide (H2O2) is a relatively stable oxidant, but when it comes into contact with a catalyst it decomposes into a mixture of superheated steam. It is this exothermic reaction which propels jetpacks into flight, such as the one recently used by ambitious stuntman Eric Scott.
Scott went into the record books this week as he flew over the 350m-deep Royal Gorge canyons, near Cañon City in Colorado, US, also the location of the world’s highest suspension bridge.
The stunt took just 21 seconds to complete as he propelled himself, dressed in a red jumpsuit, across the canyon with the jetpack strapped to his back. Insufficient technology actually limits the operating time of these hydrogen-peroxide jetpacks, to about 30 seconds.
Usage
Governments have tested and used hydrogen-peroxide for use in rockets, for both space exploration and warfare. HTP, or High Test Peroxide, is a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide; the rest being made up of water.
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