Redstone Steam Generator

One item in Mark Wells' collection is a production Redstone rocket engine steam generator.

The steam generator is used by the engine to drive the turbopumps; it is analogous to the the gas generator on later rocket engines. The steam generator works by decomposing hydrogen peroxide, supplied from a tank mounted on thrust frame at the forward end of the engine, into steam over a bed of potassium permanganate pellets.

When I picked up this steam generator, I expected the pellets inside to rattle, but it remained silent no matter how hard I shook it. Based on its weight, it did not seem as though it was hollow, so I'm not certain what may have happened to the pellets.

I have photos of the steam generators mounted on several Redstone engines. I also have a page regarding the Redstone steam generator. Finally, Mark also has an earlier model steam generator in his collection.