Space firms considering fuel switch to cut emissions.
Space Travel Companies Seek Environmentally Friendly Rocket Fuels
Space travel companies are actively exploring alternative fuels for their rockets in a bid to reduce emissions and minimize their carbon footprint. Currently, the majority of rocket fuel consists of a combination of kerosene and oxygen, known as kerolox, or hydrogen and oxygen, known as hydrolox. While these fuels have proven effective, they are notorious for their significant carbon emissions, which has prompted increased global scrutiny on emission reduction efforts.
Recognizing the urgency to address this issue, space companies have shifted their focus towards developing new fuels that can propel massive rockets into space while significantly reducing their environmental impact.
China Takes the Lead
China has emerged as a frontrunner in this endeavor, with its Landspace’s Zhuque-2 rocket making history in July as the first rocket to successfully reach space using methane fuel, as reported by Space News. Methane, being a cleaner alternative to traditional rocket fuels, has inspired other companies to follow China’s lead.
According to Axios, prominent companies such as SpaceX’s Starship rocket, RocketLab’s Neutron, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and ULA’s Vulcan Centaur have also adopted methane fuel. However, none of these rockets have achieved successful space missions yet. Notably, Starship, the largest rocket ever launched, infamously exploded a few minutes after liftoff.
Aside from its environmental benefits, methane offers advantages in terms of efficiency and storage. It is more efficient than its counterparts and easier to store.
Stephen Heister, a professor of engineering at Purdue University, highlighted that methane produces 10% more thrust than kerosene and its availability has increased in recent years due to advancements in natural gas extraction.
“We’ve witnessed a significant surge in interest in using methane as a rocket fuel over the past two decades,” he stated. “In most cases, it is replacing kerosene, which was previously utilized in the Apollo program.”
Click here for more from The Washington Examiner.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...