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Water-to-Fuel: A Space Startup's Bold Test of Rocket Propulsion from H2O

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Source: Futurism
Water-to-Fuel: A Space Startup's Bold Test of Rocket Propulsion from H2O
Photo: Futurism
TL;DR

Former SpaceX engineer Halen Mattison and General Galactic plan to launch an 1,100‑pound satellite on Falcon 9 to test turning water into rocket fuel: electrolyze water to hydrogen and oxygen for chemical propulsion, and drive oxygen to plasma for electric propulsion. While the approach could aid in-situ resource use and offer rapid thrust bursts, experts warn about potential electronics corrosion from ionized oxygen and the added mass of the electrolysis system; the concept remains controversial, though research into extracting water and oxygen from lunar or Martian regolith continues.

Topics:sciencetechnology#electrolysis#in-situ-resource-utilization#plasma-propulsion#space-startup#technology#water-propulsion
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  1. SpaceX Veteran Says He’s Figured Out How to Make Rocket Fuel From Water  Futurism
  2. This Startup Thinks It Can Make Rocket Fuel From Water. Stop Laughing  WIRED
  3. General Galactic prepares Trinity demonstration flight and tests new type of thrust  Universe Space Tech
  4. General Galactic to test satellite powered only by water in space  Interesting Engineering

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