THE Americans have just successfully launched a small rocket using an “environmentally-friendly”, safe propellant comprised of aluminium powder and water ice, called ALICE.
According to Nasa, the famous space agency, this project provided an opportunity for graduate students to work on an environmentally-friendly propellant that can be used for flight on Earth and may eventually be used in long-distance space missions.
Following a successful rocket launch, Nasa chief engineer Mike Ryschkewitsch said: “These sorts of university-led experimental projects encourage a new generation of aerospace engineers to think outside of the box and look at new ways for Nasa to meet our exploration goals.”
Using ALICE as fuel, a nine-foot rocket soared to a height of 1,300ft in last month’s trial.
ALICE is generating excitement among researchers because this energetic propellant has the potential to replace some liquid or solid propellants.
When it is fully developed, it could have a higher performance than conventional propellants.
Traditionally, space rockets have used highly dangerous hydrogen-based propellants that have, on occasion, blown up and resulted in deaths.
ALICE has the consistency of toothpaste when made. It can be fitted into moulds and then cooled to minus 30C 24 hours before flight. The propellant has a high burn rate and achieved a maximum thrust of 650 pounds during this test.
Work will continue to refine ALICE with the addition of oxidisers. Because it is a solid fuel, Nasa says that, theoretically, ALICE could be manufactured in distant places, such as the moon or Mars, instead of being transported to distant locations at high cost.