Why do countries launch so many rockets into space? It’s not just for exploration or for taking pictures of the moon and stars. You rely on satellites that orbit the Earth for almost every aspect of your daily life. You get directions from GPS signals that ping from satellites, and your cellphone sends and receives messages that way too. By launching a rocket with an engine fueled by methane and oxygen, China will be able to send rockets into Earth’s orbit at 18,000 miles per hour without refueling.
A new type of rocket fuel could launch China farther into space, beating its competition by a million miles
China has announced the successful launch of ZQ-2 Y2, the nickname of the country’s first liquid methane and liquid oxygen-fueled spacecraft. American scientists are worried about catching up to this breakthrough in aerospace engineering. Chinese companies and government organizations work hard to be at the forefront of technological innovation, and this event proves that their efforts pay off. Using this ne, ZQ-2w fuel, China could save millions of dollars and reduce some of the emissions created when launching rockets.
Liquid methane and liquid oxygen are not easy to create. To turn these gases into liquids, scientists have to force them through metal tubes submerged in super-cold liquid nitrogen. The freezing temperature slows down the gas particles, turning the substance into a liquid. Liquid methane and liquid oxygen burn much cleaner than traditional rocket fuel, which is made from petroleum. READ MORE...
