Stardust 1.0

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Context 

On January 31, Stardust 1.0 was launched from a former military base in the US called Loring Commerce Centre. This became the 1st commercial space launch powered by biofuel, which is non-toxic for the environment opposed to traditionally used rocket fuels.

About Stardust 1.0

• The rocket is manufactured by bluShift, which is an aerospace company based in Maine developing rockets, which are powered by bio-derived fuels.

• The launch vehicle Stardust 1.0 is suitable for student and budget payloads.

• The rocket is 20 feet tall and has a mass of roughly 250 kgs and it can carry a maximum payload mass of 8 kgs.

• In its first launch, the rocket carried three payloads including:

• A metal alloy which is designed to lessen vibrations.

• A CubeSat prototype which was built by high school students.

• A CubeSat that was procured from software company Rocket Insights.

• These rockets will help to launch small satellites called “Cubesats” into space in a way which is relatively cheaper than using traditional rocket fuel and is less toxic for the environment. 

 About Biofuels

• Any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from an organic matter (living or once living material) in a short period of time (days, weeks, or even months) is considered a biofuel.

• It is not produced by the usual slow geological processes of formation of fossil fuels like oil.

• The two most common kinds of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel and they both represent the first generation of biofuel technology.

• Biofuels are of 3 types:

  • Solid Biofuels such as Wood, dried plant material, and manure.

  • Liquid Biofuels such as Bioethanol and Biodiesel. 

  • Gaseous Biofuels like biogas.