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The steam vent (left) and hydrogen peroxide overflow and vent port.

Picture 1 of 2.

After leaving the turbine, exhaust steam is routed through the heat exchanger and steam duct. The steam duct is fitted into the steam vent on the interior of the tail unit, allowing the exhaust steam to be dumped overboard. This exhaust steam contributes approximately 3,000 pounds to the engine's rated thrust.

A hose from the hydrogen peroxide servicing truck would attach to the hydrogen peroxide fill and drain valve on the forward end of the tail unit to fill the engine's 76-gallon hydrogen peroxide tank and (for Mercury-Redstone flights) the auxiliary peroxide tank. Another hose would attach to the hydrogen peroxide overflow and vent port and connect to the H₂O₂ overflow tank (basically an enclosed bucket), to be diluted and discarded.