Space exploration is no laughing matter, especially when it comes to finding innovative solutions for sustainable fuel. But what if a startup claims it can turn water into rocket fuel? Yes, you read that right! This is the story of General Galactic, a bold venture that aims to revolutionize space travel.
The concept of using water as fuel for space exploration has been floating around since the Apollo missions. The idea is simple: find ice on the Moon or Mars, extract hydrogen and oxygen, and use them as fuel to venture deeper into space. But here's where it gets controversial—no one has successfully implemented this on a large scale. General Galactic, founded by two young engineers, is determined to be the first.
This autumn, General Galactic will attempt to launch a satellite weighing 1,100 pounds, powered solely by water-based propellant. If successful, this could be a game-changer. Not only would it address the long-standing challenge of sustainable space fuel, but it could also enhance the maneuverability of US satellites, a crucial factor with the looming threat of space conflicts.
Halen Mattison, CEO of General Galactic, envisions a future with a gas station on Mars and a refueling network across space. But first, they have secured a spot on a Falcon 9 rocket launch scheduled for October or later this fall. The company's ambitious plan involves two main types of spacecraft engines.
Chemical propulsion, used in most large rockets, provides powerful thrust by burning fuel like liquid methane with an oxidizer. However, it's not very efficient. On the other hand, electric propulsion, which ionizes gases like xenon and expels them, offers incredible efficiency but minimal thrust. As Mattison humorously puts it, "It's like a burp in space, but it lasts forever."
Water isn't perfect for either system, but it might be a versatile compromise. It's safer and easier to manage than liquid methane, eliminating concerns about explosions or extreme cooling requirements.
General Galactic's Trinity mission will showcase both propulsion methods. For chemical propulsion, they'll use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, then burn the hydrogen. For electric propulsion, they'll employ a Hall thruster, turning oxygen into plasma and using a magnetic field to propel it.
The goal is to offer both efficient maneuvering and rapid acceleration when needed. This is particularly relevant given the increasing proximity of Chinese and Russian satellites to American ones, making quick maneuvering a strategic necessity.
Mattison and his CTO, Luke Neise, a former SpaceX and Varda Space engineer, developed this idea during their graduate studies at Stanford. They immersed themselves in research and consulted experts, eventually modeling and testing their concept with Python scripts. Their excitement grew as they realized the potential of their idea.
The startup has raised $10 million in venture capital, a modest sum in the aerospace industry but sufficient for their initial mission. However, challenges remain. Ionized oxygen is highly reactive, potentially causing corrosion in the propulsion system, making material selection critical. Additionally, the competitiveness of General Galactic's chemical propulsion system, considering the added mass of the electrolysis equipment, is uncertain.
Mark Lewis, CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute and former US Air Force chief scientist, acknowledges the potential but also the uncertainties. If General Galactic can deliver on its promises, it could provide a significant boost to future missions, addressing the critical need for sustainable space fuel.
And this is the part most people miss—the potential impact on space exploration is immense. But will General Galactic succeed? Only time will tell. What do you think? Is this a revolutionary idea or a moonshot too far? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
