RP-1-like Fuels
Goddard's initial rockets used gasoline.
Clark mentions in "Ignition!" that while the RP-1 specification was being developed, Rocketdyne was experimenting with diethyl cyclohexane. However, it offered few advantages over RP-1, and was dropped. In addition, the military (NASA did not yet exist) preferred RP-1 because it was processed alongside jet fuels in the same refineries.
Soviet formulations are discussed above. In addition, the Soviets briefly used syntin (Russian: Синтин), a higher-energy formulation, used in upper stages. Syntin is 1-methyl 1,2 dicyclopropyl cyclopropane (C10H16).
After the RP-1 standard, RP-2 was developed. The primary difference is an even lower sulfur content. However, as most users accept RP-1, there was little incentive to produce and stock a second, even rarer and more expensive formulation.
The OTRAG group launched test vehicles using more-common blends. In at least one instance, a rocket was propelled by diesel fuel. However, no OTRAG rocket came even close to orbit. The later, loosely-similar Scorpius rocket used Jet A, again without ever reaching orbit.
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