this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2023
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Mini space thruster that runs on water (www.esa.int)
submitted 2 years ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/space@beehaw.org
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[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 8 points 2 years ago

Iridium Catalysed Electrolysis CubeSat Thruster (ICE-Cube Thruster)

They must've gotten a kick from that acronym. I do and I didn't make it up.

[–] chrismarquardt@feddit.de 6 points 2 years ago

I’d love to see that in action 

[–] KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Being able to electrolyse water on-the-spot seems interesting, its energy inefficient but serves a similar role to ion thrusters I guess

[–] Gurfaild@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It might actually be more efficient than keeping cyrogenic hydrogen cooled if the mission takes multiple decades and you don't need the fuel most of the time - for example in a Pluto orbiter

[–] KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

Yeah, cooling needs energy, could be very useful for very small satellites

[–] TheBaldness@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

Well, this sent me down the rabbit hole for over an hour.

[–] dark_stang@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

This is cool as hell. But I feel like having a supply of potable water in space is kinda difficult?

[–] cosmic_skillet@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

That's a neat idea