A Japanese space start-up has achieved a major breakthrough by testing a prototype rocket engine, powered entirely by fuel derived from cow dung. This experiment, conducted in the rural town of Taiki, involved a 10-second blast of a blue-and-orange flame. The "biomethane" used in the test was produced from cow manure collected from local dairy farms, highlighting the potential benefits for both space travel and agriculture.
Interstellar Technologies, in collaboration with Air Water, developed this environmentally friendly and cost-effective fuel. CEO Takahiro Inagawa stressed its local production, cost efficiency, and high performance. The initiative involved partnering with farmers to process manure into biogas, with Air Water converting it into rocket fuel.
Eiji Mizushita, a participating farmer with 900 cows, utilised an automated system to convert manure into biogas, fertiliser, and bedding materials. While biogas sales generated minimal income for Mizushita, he found the project rewarding, underscoring the importance of proper manure disposal and advocating for government and societal support in renewable energy production.
This innovative approach not only contributes to space exploration but also addresses the environmental impact of agriculture, responsible for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions according to Greenpeace.
Despite setbacks in Japan's "Moon Sniper" mission, the successful test of the cow-dung-powered rocket engine presents a promising development for the country's space program and a potential solution to the global energy crisis.
