Japan's quest for space just got a whole lot funkier - and environmentally friendly!
Interstellar Technologies, a daring startup, has shaken up the space industry by testing a prototype rocket engine running solely on cow dung. Yep, you read that right!
Interstellar Technologies, a space infrastructure company dedicated to addressing global challenges through space transportation and utilization, has completed a static fire test for its small satellite launch vehicle, ZERO, which is powered by Liquid Biomethane (LBM).
Testing the Rocket
A report shared by Phys.org tells us that the test was performed in a rural northern town in Japan called Taiki, a rocket engine shoots out a vibrant blue-and-orange flame, not upwards towards the stars but horizontally, out of an open hangar door, for a solid 10 seconds. All powered by fuel derived exclusively from cow manure.
The brains behind this cosmic cow concoction are Interstellar's very own chief executive, Takahiro Inagawa, and their partner, industrial gas producer Air Water. Together, they have cracked the code to turn cow patties into a propellant fit for cosmic missions.
"We are doing this not just because it is good for the environment but because it can be produced locally," Inagawa proudly declared. "It is very cost-effective, and it is a fuel with high performance and high purity"
Imagine a world where dairy farms are not just for milk, but also for rocket fuel! This rocket from Interstellar, which is powered by cow dung, imagines a future in which satellites are launched into space thanks to this revolutionary fuel.
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More Cost-Effective Rockets
Recently, Japan's space agency, JAXA, encountered setbacks in its rocket endeavors. However, a novel propulsion method fueled by cow-derived energy offers a promising departure from past mishaps.
This innovation could potentially consign failed missions and rocket explosions to history, all thanks to this unlikely source.
Biogas from cow dung is already a staple energy source in various parts of the world, like powering buses in India's Indore. Greenpeace even cheers it on for fighting agriculture's monstrous greenhouse gas emissions.
Air Water, the company behind the scenes, has a process as sophisticated as rocket science itself. They ferment cow waste and whisk it away to a factory in Obihiro to produce liquid biomethane, ready to fuel rockets. Interstellar is gearing up to launch its "Zero" rocket, aiming to soar skyward on carbon-neutral energy.
At the heart of this dung-powered revolution are the local dairy farmers, of course! Take Eiji Mizushita, a farmer with 900 cows and 40 tons of dung daily. He has turned waste into wealth, creating biogas, fertilizer, and even recycled bedding for his moo-tastic pals.
We need to properly dispose of and use manure," Mizushita exclaimed. " I also think that the government and society should take a more serious look at the importance of natural renewable energy and encourage its production"
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