A startup called General Galactic, co-founded by a former SpaceX engineer, aims to revolutionize space travel by making rocket fuel from water. The idea may seem far-fetched, but the company believes that its innovative approach could be just what's needed to tackle the challenges of deep-space exploration.
General Galactic plans to test its water-based propellant this fall, with the goal of demonstrating both chemical and electric propulsion systems in orbit. If successful, the technology could provide a more efficient and maneuverable alternative to traditional rocket fuels, which are often heavy and expensive.
The concept is simple: split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis, then burn the hydrogen fuel while combining it with oxygen as an oxidizer for chemical propulsion. Alternatively, use electrical energy to ionize the oxygen, creating a plasma that can be accelerated using a magnetic field for electric propulsion. While water isn't ideal for either method, General Galactic believes its approach could offer advantages over traditional fuels.
The startup's vision is ambitious: it plans to create a network of refueling stations in space to support human settlements on the moon and Mars. By providing a reliable source of fuel that can be used in both high-efficiency maneuvering situations and emergency responses, General Galactic aims to enable faster and more efficient travel to the red planet.
General Galactic's CEO, Halen Mattison, acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains optimistic about the potential for his technology. "We're not going to solve all of space exploration's problems with this," he says. "But we can start by solving a few key ones." With $10 million in venture capital and the backing of experienced aerospace professionals, General Galactic is ready to put its ideas into action.
While there are valid concerns about the feasibility of General Galactic's approach – ionized oxygen can interact with surfaces, and the added mass for electrolysis systems may make traditional propulsion methods more competitive – Mark Lewis, CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, sees potential in the technology. "It could be a pretty clever way to provide thrust to a small satellite," he says.
General Galactic plans to test its water-based propellant this fall, with the goal of demonstrating both chemical and electric propulsion systems in orbit. If successful, the technology could provide a more efficient and maneuverable alternative to traditional rocket fuels, which are often heavy and expensive.
The concept is simple: split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis, then burn the hydrogen fuel while combining it with oxygen as an oxidizer for chemical propulsion. Alternatively, use electrical energy to ionize the oxygen, creating a plasma that can be accelerated using a magnetic field for electric propulsion. While water isn't ideal for either method, General Galactic believes its approach could offer advantages over traditional fuels.
The startup's vision is ambitious: it plans to create a network of refueling stations in space to support human settlements on the moon and Mars. By providing a reliable source of fuel that can be used in both high-efficiency maneuvering situations and emergency responses, General Galactic aims to enable faster and more efficient travel to the red planet.
General Galactic's CEO, Halen Mattison, acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains optimistic about the potential for his technology. "We're not going to solve all of space exploration's problems with this," he says. "But we can start by solving a few key ones." With $10 million in venture capital and the backing of experienced aerospace professionals, General Galactic is ready to put its ideas into action.
While there are valid concerns about the feasibility of General Galactic's approach – ionized oxygen can interact with surfaces, and the added mass for electrolysis systems may make traditional propulsion methods more competitive – Mark Lewis, CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, sees potential in the technology. "It could be a pretty clever way to provide thrust to a small satellite," he says.
. I mean, think about it - we're already talking about having refueling stations in space for lunar and Mars missions? That's like something out of sci-fi! And the idea that it could make traditional rocket fuels less necessary is huge. I'm all for innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's thought possible 
. Of course, there are some naysayers saying it's not practical yet, but I think General Galactic has a solid shot at making this work 
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! I mean, using water as rocket fuel sounds crazy at first, but if it works, that's a major win! And the idea of having refueling stations in space to support human settlements on the moon and Mars... that's just mind-blowing 
I'm definitely rooting for General Galactic – let's see if they can make this happen and revolutionize space travel once and for all 
. The idea of using water as rocket fuel is pretty cool too... I've had to do electrolysis experiments in chemistry class once, and it was super interesting to see how you can split water into hydrogen and oxygen 
. I'm rooting for General Galactic!
I'm also loving the idea of electric propulsion – it sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. 
But, I guess we need to be careful about all the details... like how ionized oxygen interacts with surfaces... 
it's not just about bein cheap or efficient either, it's about makin it possible for ppl to travel faster & more easily... the whole thing feels like sci-fi come true 
but let's get real, it's still a work in progress & there r challenges 2 overcome
I mean, we're already using super-efficient solar panels and advanced propulsion systems on some satellites, right? But seriously, it's a solid idea. I've been following the whole water-based propellant thing for a while now, and if General Galactic can make it work, it could be huge 
. Plus, the whole point of this tech is to make space travel more efficient and affordable, so even if it's not perfect, it could still have a huge impact 
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anyway, 10 million bucks is a lot of money... maybe this startup thingy will actually take off 
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Can you imagine being able to easily recharge your spaceship on the go? It's like having a portable fuel tank! 
. Another startup thinking they can change the game with some fancy tech. Like, water is not even a suitable fuel for rocket propulsion 
. And don't even get me started on the refueling stations they're planning for Mars 
... how are they going to power those? It just feels like another example of a bunch of rich people trying to make a quick buck off our space dreams 
