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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."

2 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Ethical question by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 0, Redundant

    If you could launch a rocket with pioneers and their supplies that would destroy the Earth, but ensure the survival of homo sapiens throughout the local galaxy, on multiple destination star systems, for the next million years, would that be OK?

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    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
    1. Re:Ethical question by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1, Redundant

      Actually what made my jaw drop about this article is that they are touting this as environmentally friendly? Do they know how much energy it takes to Mine then ship then smelt then ship again then grind to dust all that Aluminium? Give me a break!

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      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.