(India Times Energy World) ISRO Chairman said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking at green propulsion through hydrogen peroxide in its rocket that would take Indians into the space under its ‘Gaganyaan’ mission. The Indian space rockets are set to go green as ISRO is working to replace its
Rocket/Missile Fuel
by David Verbeek and Helene Fouquet (Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times) When a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket blasts off on a plume of white smoke, hot gases shoot out of its 27 engines, creating a thrust equal to 18 Boeing 747 aircraft. Upon reaching orbit, the world’s heaviest operational rocket will have burned
by Kelsey D. Atherton (Forbes) … The process patented by Los Alamos uses a byproduct of ethanol production, letting America’s love of fueling vehicles with corn fuel even more dangerous vehicles. … The U.S. Navy pursued a cheaper, biofuel alternative for JP-10 for years, looking to see if it can harness
by Brian Wang (Next BIG Future) NASA NIAC fund work to use bioorganisms to perform atmospheric in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Utilizing 100% ISRU for propellant production, they aim to reduce the Entry Descent Landing (EDL) mass of a crewed mission to Mars by approximately 7 tons. This technology will enable long-term human
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …Couple of good trends to point to: 1. Lot more emphasis on farms and farming these days. It’s still an industry dominated by people in white coats, but there are some more overalls around the ABS than we’ve ever seen before. 2. A little more emphasis
(ABS-CBN News) A group of Filipino scientists say they found a way to convert algae into biofuel for rockets. In an interview with ANC’s Early Edition, Orbital Exploration Technologies founder Dexter Baño also weighs in on the benefits of creating a Philippine Space Agency. WATCH VIDEO
(Michigan Technological University/Science Codex) What is the genetic basis for eucalyptus trees to produce that fragrant oil many of us associate with trips to the spa? Carsten Külheim, associate professor in Michigan Technological University’s School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, has spent the past 10 years of his career studying eucalyptus.
(Tass) CosmoCourse plans to engage in space tourism starting from 2025 — A projected rocket for commercial suborbital spaceflights, to be launched from a private space center to be built in Central Russia, will use ethyl alcohol as a fuel, the project’s head told TASS on Thursday. Pavel Pushkin, the CEO of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We have word bubbling up simultaneously from Pennsylvania and Colorado that Gevo and Renmatix inked a joint development agreement to evaluate the commercial feasibility of creating renewable jet fuel by integrating Renmatix’s Plantrose Process with Gevo’s GIFT technology and alcohol to jet process. The key word
by Beth Brogan (Bangor Daily News) … Eventually, that rocket, powered by a proprietary bio-derived, carbon neutral rocket fuel formulation, will leave Earth, carrying small satellites — “cube sats” — into space. Eventually, the rocket would be able to carry 50 kilograms of satellites. Founded by Maine native Sascha Deri, bluShift
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Portugal comes the news that SilicoLife was awarded with a SME instrument phase 1 grant for the commercial evaluation of its BUTANOVA technology, a new biological process to produce n-butanol. BUTANOVA technology consists on a novel and proprietary metabolic pathway designed computationally by SilicoLife and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Imagine, for example, a Boeing 777 flying non-stop between any two cities in the world. Or F-18A/F Superhornets adding significant weapon loads, or up to 30% to flight range. It’s like getting a new generation of aircraft without the multi-billion price tag. Gevo and Los Alamos
(Nikkei Asian Review) A startup founded by maverick Japanese entrepreneur Takafumi Horie is poised to launch a test rocket as early as January. If successful, it will be Japan’s first private rocket to reach an altitude of 100km. Interstellar Technologies, based in the country’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, aims to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Much has been written about terpenes in the area of flavors and fragrances. But they have astonishing properties for super high-density jet fuels in the 130,000-140,000 BTU range. Think valencene, premnaspirodiene, and b-caryophyllene. Now, we get into an interesting range of molecules, which Allylix and
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In looking at ways to jump-start this country’s bogged down production of biomass based jetfuel (Jet-A, JP-5, JP-8) and rocket fuel (RP-1/2), the early history of the US space program should serve as a guide. Walter McDougall’s 1986 Pulitzer Prize winning book “the Heaven
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Develop high energy rocket propellants for the private companies under NASA contracts to fly missions to the space station. Develop endothermic fuels for hypersonic vehicles for the military. READ MORE
Brad Buck (University of Florida) Buck Rogers surely couldn’t have seen this one coming, but at NASA’s request, University of Florida researchers have figured out how to turn human waste — yes, that kind — into rocket fuel. Adolescent jokes aside, the process finally makes useful something that until now has
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … But in the meantime, it appears to be an open-and-shut case that “new sugars” are the new sugar — and specifically that stevia might be the new sugar. Supporters of the idea that synthetic stevia might be the big winner in the multi-billion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … SkyNRG is undertaking its first major feedstock project in South Africa, featuring a nicotine-free energy tobacco crop that’s developed by Sunchem under the name of Solaris. Which is an excellent reminder of how much activity is going on in aviation biofuels to solve the
(Navigant Research) Viewed as a game changer in the race to commercialize advanced biofuels, aviation and marine biofuels represent a very significant opportunity for emerging producers in the advanced biofuels industry. Demand for advanced biofuels produced from sustainable, non-food feedstocks is largely driven by a need to hedge against increases
(RT.com) Scientists have scored a breakthrough in high-energy biofuels by producing a bacterium that synthesizes highly-efficient pinene, a hydrocarbon made by trees. It could soon replace existing alternatives and usher in a new era of rocket engines. Researchers have struggled for years with the problem of cheaper options to the