PROPELLANT CAPTURE
Green Launch has demonstrated one of the most significant advancements in the efficiency and sustainability of launch technology. As part of a demonstration contract, Green Launch has captured over 91% of the propellant for a light-gas launcher. Propellant capture reduces the muzzle flash and acoustic signature during launch. In the case of a two stage launch system that compresses and heats pure hydrogen, we could reuse this fastest propellant indefinitely. In places like the moon or Mars where propellant is scarce and costly this is a tremendous advantage. Today’s RP1 and MethylOx rockets produce over 19 tons of CO2 for each ton of payload delivered into orbit. Green Launch produces only water vapor for suborbital launch normally, but with propellant capture, virtually nothing is released. This is the least environmental impact imaginable for a launch system. For orbital launches, at altitude, Green Launch will require a solid rocket to circularize the orbit. This rocket will produce some exhaust high in the atmosphere.
Some future Lunar and Mars missions plan to have their rocket refuel multiple times in low earth orbit. So for each fully fueled rocket ship, 25,000 tons of CO2 will be released into the atmosphere. A scaled up version of Green Launch could significantly reduce this environmental impact while refueling a depo placed for this rocket in Low Earth Orbit.
Eric