/sci/ - Science & Math

https://twitter.com/GraviticsInc/status/1769110302921285749

Methane (CH4) as a propellant for space launch vehicles has gained considerable attention in recent years. The first successful usage of methane to get a launch vehicle to orbit came in July 2023 with the launch of the Chinese Zhuque-2. Previously, methane-powered rockets were undergoing extensive research and development, but none had reached this milestone

Being stable, non-toxic, and efficient—methane-based propellant offers distinct advantages over traditional cryogenic fuel options. Compatibility with existing infrastructure is a key strength, along with safer handling and its abundance on Earth and beyond. It can be synthesized from various sources such as natural gas, biomass, and recycled carbon dioxide, which makes it a good candidate for in-situ production on other worlds

Several space agencies and private aerospace companies have been actively investigating methane-based propulsion systems for a variety of applications, including lunar and Mars exploration missions. SpaceX, for example, has been developing the Raptor engine, which utilizes methane as fuel for its next-generation Starship spacecraft. Starship successfully reached orbit, powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen, for the first time on March 14th 2024. Other notable examples of methane-powered space launch vehicles include ULA's Vulcan, Rocket Lab's Neutron, and Blue Origin's New Glenn

At Gravitics, we’re leveraging the inherent safety of this readily available propellant for thrusters that will power our modules in low Earth orbit. These are gas-gas thrusters that operate in multiple modes, providing high thrust for extended orbit change maneuvers as well as precision pulsing for attitude control, proximity operations, and docking. Being powered by non-toxic gaseous propellants simplifies the Gravitics thruster operation and greatly extends propellant storage lifespan in space. Read more at http://gravitics.com/components