Igniting Sustainable Space Exploration with Renewable Methane-powered Rocketry

July 2024

In order to mitigate the environmental impacts of Methalox, the propellant of the future, Humankind needs to master the production of renewable methane. Executing a literature research, a Rocket Propellant Readiness Level assessment and a high-level techno-economic analysis, this project idea conceptualizes a strategy for the deployment of an experimental-scale integrated biorefinery capable of producing renewable methane from different technologies. Anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge, biogas upgrading, and Sabatier processing of captured CO2 would be leveraged conjointly in an experimental facility that could potentially be built for a CAPEX of 0.85 to 1.14 million EUR, generating 130 tonnes of renewable methane destined to power the next generation of reusable rockets. Beyond contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 9 and 13, the mastering and deployment of these technologies could enhance human space exploration, and ESA’s mission, by allowing full wastewater recycling and ISRU production of methane, igniting a new dawn of space exploration.

Authors in the community:

• 

  M

  Mário João Carvalho de Pinto Balsemão

  ist181833

ESA-EISC Space for Sustainability Award

Keywords

• methalox
• renewable methane
• rocket fuel
• sustainability
• space exploration

eng - English

CC-BY - Attribution