ALICE to the stars! Could be a catchy title. It’s an acronym: ALuminum ICE, a new kind of rocket fuel. There are lots of ways to drive a rocket. Few of them are ecologically friendly. This one may be. Better still, aluminum nanoparticles and water (hydrogen and oxygen) for rocket fuel are potentially available for replenishment in space – from water ice and aluminum sources on the Moon, Mars, or passing asteroids. Research by Purdue and Penn State universities (USA) has resulted in the launch of an experimental rocket powered by ALICE…

Using aluminum for fuel is not completely new–the space shuttle’s solid rocket boosters use a small amount of the metal, as will NASA’s Ares rocket. But the new work involves making aluminum one of the key ingredients by using nanoscale particles. These tiny particles, when ignited, combust more rapidly than larger particles, forcing more exhaust gases out of the metal and giving the rocket the necessary kick.

The oxygen and hydrogen in water molecules enhance the combustion of the aluminum. Freezing the propellant keeps it intact, avoiding any premature reactions.

The propellant was able to lift a rocket 396 meters during an August flight test, which was funded by NASA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Now, for even better performance, the researchers are working on adjusting the ratios of different ingredients and possibly mixing the nano-aluminum with larger aluminum particles.

[Source: Technology Review]

For human space flight, the availability of water is obviously important. Being able to refuel in space – without requiring a complex refinery process – may be even more important. That’s why the availability of sufficient water to be a source of fuel may be one of the decisive factors in planning for travel within our solar system. [See SciTechStory: On the Moon or Elsewhere: Follow the Water].