XCOR has just completed tests on a Methane fired pulse engine. This is incredible considering the possibilities and abundance of fuel. Methane can be a bio-fuel as well and if this pans out it has all sorts of space applications. This is truly a phenomenal break thru. But how does all this really work you ask? Well the XCOR methane engine (3M9 LOX) fires in short rapid fire burst. They use self-pressurizing propellants. Methane is available on many planets and is easily stored for long periods of time, which makes it an ideal fuel for space travel, space tourism and kicking off the commercialization of space. Additionally it has private aviation applications as well. And lets not count out the Military, as the United States Air Force Research Lab is under writing some of these tests. They too have many potential uses for this; everything from running UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) off of bio-waste to launching rockets, missiles and staging defense systems with long-tern storage. Of course right now they are looking at it solely for space applications. Everyone is pretty excited about this including NASA. Why even the cows are cool with it and the environmentalists are ecstatic over the future possibilities; very impressive indeed. Can you say Mars fueling station for space exploration? I can. Think on this in 2006. |
