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Air Force & NASA Fire Off Green Rocket

Posted by kdawson on from the one-of-these-days-alice dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA and the Air Force said today they had successfully launched a 9-ft. rocket 1,300 feet into the sky, powered by aluminum powder and water ice. This combination of fuel elements, referred to as ALICE, has the potential to replace some liquid or solid propellants. The technology is being developed at Purdue University and Pennsylvania State University. Aside from its environmental benefiits, ALICE has the advantage that it could be manufactured in far-away places, such as the moon or Mars, instead of being transported to distant horizons at great cost, researchers said."

7 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. To the Moon by bobdotorg · · Score: 5, Funny

    I suspect that the rocket's first stage will have a Radium - Aluminum - Phosphorus based fuel (RAALPh) and will propel the ALICE stage to the moon. Straight to the moon. One of these days.

    --
    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
    1. Re:To the Moon by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 2, Funny

      I suspect that the rocket's first stage will have a Radium - Aluminum - Phosphorus based fuel (RAALPh) and will propel the ALICE stage to the moon. Straight to the moon. One of these days.

      Oh. Mod points gone. Oh my ribs...

      --
      Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
    2. Re:To the Moon by damburger · · Score: 2, Funny

      As would much of the wildlife in the range

      --
      If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
  2. Re:Hm... by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

    It would be easier if water could be found on the moon.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  3. Re:Ethical question by pushing-robot · · Score: 5, Funny

    aluminium

    Oh dear lord, not this again.

    • The discoverer (Sir Humphry Davy) spelled it Aluminum.
    • Aluminum saves a syllable.
    • NASA, the subject of this article, spells it Aluminum.
    • IUPAC accepts the spelling Aluminum.
    • A-loo-mi-num has such a nice... woody quality about it, while Al-yoo-min-i-um is a nasty tinny sort of thing.

    ... Q.E.D.

    --
    How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  4. Re:Ethical question by martas · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm the founder of a world-wide organization whose aim it is to execute every person to have ever used the "aluminum" spelling. I'm very serious about this. You should be, too.

    --
    weinersmith
  5. Re:Aluminum powder is green? by lxs · · Score: 3, Funny

    When has green not meant better?

    When describing your great aunt's complexion after eating the funny tasting crab salad.