Japan's Interstellar Technologies successfully tests rocket engine fueled by cow dung
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Tokyo: Interstellar Technologies, a Japanese space startup, accomplished a significant milestone in space innovation by conducting a successful test of its Cosmos engine, named Zero, at the Hokkaido Spaceport.
This groundbreaking rocket engine, fueled by methane gas derived from cow dung, signifies a significant leap in developing the world's first orbital rocket powered by this sustainable and abundant resource.
The milestone was marked by a 10-second "static fire test" at the Hokkaido Spaceport, showcasing the Zero rocket engine's capabilities.
The test demonstrated the successful ignition of the engine, resulting in a robust blue flame. This achievement positions Interstellar Technologies as the first private company to advance in this area, following the European Space Agency's earlier development of a rocket engine utilizing cow dung as fuel.
The successful engine test not only signifies the potential of biomethane as a clean and accessible fuel source for rockets but also highlights the innovation in rocket engine design.
Interstellar Technologies incorporated a pintle injector, akin to SpaceX's engines, into the combustion chamber of the Zero rocket. Despite known performance limitations, collaborative research efforts with Tokyo University and JAXA Space Innovation have led to design enhancements, achieving high combustion performance.
This innovation has significantly reduced the number of components to one-tenth of conventional engines, ultimately decreasing manufacturing costs, which typically constitute half of overall expenses.
In a statement released on December 7, Interstellar outlined its ongoing efforts to conduct a series of static fire tests aimed at advancing the development and production of a 130kN-class operational model.
This progress stems from insights derived during the design, manufacturing, and testing phases of a smaller 60kN-class subscale model, reflecting the company's commitment to furthering rocket engine technology fueled by sustainable resources.