(Photo courtesy of NASA)
By using steam rather than fuel, the microwave-size spacecraft prototype can theoretically explore celestial objects “forever.”
Using steam to propel a spacecraft from asteroid to asteroid is now possible, thanks to a collaboration between a private space company and the University of Central Florida.
UCF planetary research scientist Phil Metzger worked with Honeybee Robotics of Pasadena, California, which developed the World Is Not Enough spacecraft prototype that extracts water from asteroids or other planetary bodies to generate steam and propel itself to its next mining target.
UCF provided the simulated asteroid material and Metzger did the computer modeling and simulation necessary before Honeybee created the prototype and tried out the idea in its facility Dec. 31. The team also partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, to develop initial prototypes of steam-based rocket thrusters
“We could potentially use this technology to hop on the Moon, … Pluto, the poles of Mercury, asteroids — anywhere there is water and sufficiently low gravity.” – Phil Metzger, UCF scientist
“It’s awesome,” Metzger says of the demonstration. “WINE successfully mined the soil, made rocket propellant, and launched itself on a jet of steam extracted from the simulant. We could potentially use this technology to hop on the Moon, Ceres, Europa, Titan, Pluto, the poles of Mercury, asteroids — anywhere there is water and sufficiently low gravity.”
WINE, which is the size of a microwave oven, mines the water from the surface then makes it into steam to fly to a new location and repeat. Therefore, it is a rocket that never runs out of fuel and can theoretically explore “forever.”
The process works in a variety of scenarios depending on the gravity of each object, Metzger says. The spacecraft uses deployable solar panels to get enough energy for mining and making steam, or it could use small radiosotopic decay units to extend the potential reach of these planetary hoppers to Pluto and other locations far from the sun.
Metzger spent three years developing technology necessary to turn the idea into reality. He developed new equations and a new method to do computer modeling of steam propulsion to come up with the novel approach and to verify that it would actually work beyond a computer screen.
By using steam rather than fuel, the World Is Not Enough (WINE) spacecraft prototype can theoretically explore “forever,” as long as water and sufficiently low gravity is present
The development of this type of spacecraft could have a profound impact on future exploration. Currently, interplanetary missions stop exploring once the spacecraft runs out of propellant.
“Each time we lose our tremendous investment in time and money that we spent building and sending the spacecraft to its target,” Metzger says. “WINE was designed to never run out of propellant so exploration will be less expensive. It also allows us to explore in a shorter amount of time, since we don’t have to wait for years as a new spacecraft travels from Earth each time.”
The project is a result of the NASA Small Business Technology Transfer program. The program is designed to encourage universities to partner with small businesses, injecting new scientific progress into marketable commercial products.
“The WINE-like spacecrafts have the potential to change how we explore the universe.” – Kris Zacny, vice president of Honeybee Robotics
“The project has been a collaborative effort between NASA, academia and industry; and it has been a tremendous success,” says Kris Zacny, vice president of Honeybee Robotics. “The WINE-like spacecrafts have the potential to change how we explore the universe.”
The team is now seeking partners to continue developing small spacecraft.
Metzger is an associate in planetary science research at UCF’s Florida Space Institute. Before joining UCF, he worked at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center from 1985 to 2014. He earned both his master’s (2000) and doctorate (2005) in physics from UCF. Metzger’s work covers some of the most exciting and cutting-edge areas of space research and engineering. He has participated in developing a range of technologies advancing our understanding of how to explore the solar system. The technologies include: methods to extract water from lunar soil; 3D printing methods for structures built from asteroid and Martian clay, and lunar soil mechanic testers for use by gloved astronauts.
Learn more: Steam-Powered Asteroid Hoppers Developed through UCF Collaboration
The Latest on: Steam-powered spacecraft
via Google News
The Latest on: Steam-powered spacecraft
- China launches secretive reusable test spacecrafton August 4, 2022 at 1:23 pm
China sent a highly-classified reusable experimental spacecraft into orbit Thursday, two years after a similarly clandestine mission.
- Xcel Grants One-Year Moratorium on Destruction of Steam Plant on Platteon August 4, 2022 at 5:09 am
Neighbors are plenty steamed about the fate of the Zuni Generating Station, which sits on a seven-acre plot of land owned by Xcel Energy on the east bank of the South Platte River at West 13th Avenue.
- Road space in our cities must be given over to bikes and public transport – not private carson August 3, 2022 at 10:00 pm
At a time of climate crisis, aiming for car-free areas is an important goal and one European cities are achieving ...
- The Best Steam Deck Games Of 2022on August 3, 2022 at 9:40 pm
But Steam is a big marketplace, and not every game works well on the Deck. While many hit games do run well on the device, some won’t launch, while others will have you chasing through various ...
- St. Louis home listings for people who need a lot of living spaceon August 3, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Browse St. Louis homes over 4,000 square feet in size. Y E S..... Fabulous views!!! Gated Community with 24 Hour Guard which is RARE. Probably one of the BEST views/sunsets and privacy in the entire ...
- Wrecking ball or food hall? Denver and Xcel weigh future of old Zuni power plant.on August 3, 2022 at 5:11 am
The century-old power plant along the South Platte River that buttresses downtown Denver faces the prospect of demolition, but its neighbors in Lincoln Park and Sun Valley would instead prefer to see ...
- Survival game Farworld Pioneers is Terraria in spaceon August 1, 2022 at 4:02 pm
New survival game Farworld Pioneers is coming to Steam in the near future, and it seems to bring the best parts of Terraria to a far-flung planet ...
- Word to the RTX 3060-powered Alienware laptop going for $980on August 1, 2022 at 9:32 am
And that snazzy sci-fi look isn't all this portable machine has going for it. It's packing some nifty hardware inside, too. The idea of bagging the M15 R6 for just $980 is a pretty tempting option, ...
- U.S. Offers Prisoner Swap to Secure Griner’s Release, Official Sayson July 27, 2022 at 6:39 am
Russia will leave the International Space Station after its current commitment expires at the end of 2024, the new head of Russia’s space agency said on Tuesday, underscoring th ...
- Get a more eco-friendly cleaning experience with the best steam cleanerson July 26, 2022 at 8:33 am
Steam cleaning is a new and healthy way of keeping your living space appealing and hygienic. Grab one of the leading steam cleaners for 2022 and freshen up your home.
via Bing News