Important Facts For Prelims
Methane: Space Fuel
- 23 Sep 2019
- 2 min read
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is developing methane-powered rocket engines.
- Methane, which can be synthesised with water and carbon dioxide in space, is often described as the space fuel of the future.
- ISRO currently prefers to use a fuel called Unsymmetrical Di-Methyl Hydrazine, along with Nitrogen tetroxide for oxidiser, in its liquid fuel engines, which are used in the lower stages of its rockets, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
- This fuel, like all hydrazine-based fuels, is said to be highly toxic and cancer-causing.
- Globally, governments are keen on banning hydrazine.
- Advantages of Methane over Hydrazine:
- Apart from being non-toxic, it has a higher specific impulse (which means one kg of the gas can lift one kg of mass for a longer time).
- It is easy to store and does not leave a residue upon burning.
- It is less bulky and can be synthesised up in space.
- Disadvantage: Methane-fired engines need an igniter to start the fire whereas Hydrazine fuels are hypergolic, which means they start burning on their own upon coming in contact with oxygen.
