Skyrora, an Edinburgh-based company, aims not only to be the first to accomplish an orbital launch straight from the UK, but it is now seeking to be the first company that converts unrecyclable waste plastic into rocket fuel, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
(Photo : by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 15: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard has 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants, including liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
The company is currently developing a technology that can convert waste plastic into high-performance rocket fuel called Ecosene. Ecosene can be compared to the composition of premium kerosene.
How It Works
Pyrolysis is a well-known technique that the company is using. It utilizes heat to degrade a substance without the presence of oxygen and then convert it into liquid oil. The technology can carry out pyrolysis at low temperatures, resulting in fuel that can be used to fuel rockets. In fact, it can even power regular vehicles.
What's interesting is that the technology will allow for the use of even low-grade plastics in the process. With this, plastics can be used in this process. In addition, the fuel produced will be a lot cheaper and will likely cost a fifth of the $13 gallon that space companies pay for rocket fuel.
Ecosense can release up to ten times more energy. However, these claims must be verified independently. Tests indicate that burning Ecosene may produce lesser sulfur emissions than kerosene, according to Supercluster.
Skyrora is also looking to make fully scalable and modular plants that can be brought to the site of plastic waste and deployed to convert them into fuel.
Along with fuel for rockets, Ecosene can even be used as a natural carbon-reducing alternative for powering vehicles. Its fuel is said to be more environmentally friendly than fossil fuel, which emits high levels of carbon into the air upon combustion.
The ability to convert plastic into fuel could also bring down energy expenses by a huge margin. As a result, this could lead to cheaper and safer fuel sources.
Also read: Can Rocket Fuel Lower Carbon Emissions? Fracking Innovations In Oil and Gas May Provide Answers
Making Rocket Fuel More Affordable
For many years, rocket fuel has been a very expensive commodity. This is because rocket fuel is extremely expensive and often very difficult to manufacture.
But with technology, especially one like Ecosene, fuel for rockets can be produced much cheaper and more safely than before.
Space research could also become a lot cheaper as a result of this. The cost of space research is usually higher because of costly rocket fuel.
However, with the use of Ecosene, the costs of space research could go down significantly. This will then allow more startups to be able to achieve the feat, thus allowing more research and development to take place.
Related article: Rocket Fuel from LUNAR Soil to Use for Future Missions? Nanjing University Researchers Claim
