text: about nasa? where does it get it's rocket fuel? and what is it? powdered aluminum? the propellant used in the space shuttle's srbs is a mixture of powdered aluminum, ammonium perchlorate, and pban rubber as a binder.  the propellant used in the space shuttle's main engines is liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.  the propellant used in the space shuttle's oms and reaction thrursters is n2o4 and monomethylhydrazine.  the propellant used in the deep space 1 probe's ion drive was xenon gas.  the list goes on and on.  see the link below for a complete list.