Science Japanese scientists turn dung into rocket fuel

[thomas]

Air Water, a Japanese chemical manufacturing company, has been working on creating liquid biomethane from cow waste to be used as rocket fuel, potentially providing a solution for dairy farmers grappling with disposal challenges. The company said it would begin conducting trials in the fall, with the fuel to be loaded on a rocket created by space startup firm Interstellar Technologies based in Hokkaido .

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Air Water has been manufacturing liquid biomethane in Hokkaido since 2021. It ferments the dung and urine in a plant constructed on a dairy farm in the town of Taiki before transporting the generated biogas to a factory in Obihiro. The methane is then separated from the product, cooled and made into liquid biomethane. Rockets require liquid fuel to generate enough power to blast off into space. While high-purity methane is usually manufactured using liquid natural gas, the company has been working on creating methane of a similar quality through waste-sourced biogas. Interstellar Technologies will conduct tests to confirm the fuel created from cow waste can be used for its devices and aims to utilize it for its Zero rocket with a small satellite payload.

Cow waste to be transformed into rocket fuel for space startup

Air Water said it would begin conducting trials in the fall, with the fuel to be loaded on a rocket created by startup firm Interstellar Technologies.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Bovine bounty: How cow dung is key to a greener rocket fuel | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Scientists in Japan are taking animal excrement and turning it into an alternative to LNG.

www3.nhk.or.jp

 

[dracuella]

Is there anything the Japanese won't ferment? xD
Seriously, though, this is an excellent idea. The fermentation process is (relatively) cheap in resources and manpower compared to searching for gas pockets, fracking, mining, sailing it across the world, etc. Not to mention we probably won't stop eating beef anytime soon so the supply is endless. And better for the environment, too!