The V2 rocket's secret afterburner

Did every V2 rocket launched during WWII use a secret afterburner for additional thrust? It may seem strange to ask this so many decades after the last V2 flew, given the extensive study of the V2 and its foundational role in modern rocketry. How could something so crucial go unnoticed for so long? The answer (spoiler alert!) is that it wasn't overlooked; a brilliant young American scientist discovered this phenomenon and accurately described its functioning. However, his team's technical paper detailing the afterburner remained unpublished until very recently. Before it was declassified in 1999, only about 30 people had been permitted to view the document. We explain how this important technology remained a secret until 1948/49, when J.B. Edson employed "Little Bright-Eyes" to track the V2 into the mesosphere, leading to his groundbreaking report number 708. In this video, Robert will discuss the findings of secret report 708 and explain why the designers of the V2, based at wartime Peenemunde in Germany, missed this phenomenon and failed to understand the contribution of the afterburner to every successful missile launch. We created a shorter version of this video for Turbopump Part 2. This extended and revised version corrects a shortcoming of the earlier release regarding Germany's limited progress in long-range telescopic observation of rocket engine phenomena. 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Coming attractions 01:48 The problem of visibility 02:27 Report No. 708 03:23 Thrust outside the missile! 04:36 German Optics 06:49 Giant Zeiss binocular 08:48 The V-2 in America 09:14 American Optics 09:46 Little Bright-Eyes 11:30 Test missile No 38 12:10 Jet flame not round 15:40 Combustion 19:50 Afterburner steps 22:21 Afterburner visualised 27:15 Summary Inside the outside 29:25 Last word, Dr J.B. Edson Literature Edson, James B. Optical Studies of the Jet Flame of the V-2 Missile in Flight (1949), Army Ballistics Research Lab., ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND NEW - Be a Patreon channel supporter and help us make the best possible video presentations.   / v2rockethistory   I hope that after seeing this video's unique content, you might feel inspired to help us research and produce videos like this one and become a channel supporter via our Patreon platform. We are offering a growing number of benefits to reward Patreons, including unique content and early access to ad-free versions of our latest videos. For our highest-tier supporters, we'll recognise your help as a producer with your name in the onscreen end credits. I don't expect rich rewards for this effort—for me, it's a labour of love. But costs are high, and I receive assistance from others that must be funded. Your support will help us improve content and speed up production time. Thanks for your consideration. RJD Presented by Robert J Dalby FRAS Produced by Astronomy and Nature TV