Stardust 1.0 First Biofuel Powered Rocket
- On 31 January, Stardust 1.0, the first biofuel-powered commercial space launch vehicle, was launched from the Loring Commerce Center in Maine, USA.
- These biofuels, unlike the rocket fuels traditionally used, are not harmful to the environment.
- The rocket can carry a maximum payload of 8 kg and during its first launch carried three payloads.
What are ‘biofuels’?
Any hydrocarbon fuel, which is produced in less time (days, weeks or months)by organic materials(living or dead), is considered as a biofuels.
Biofuels can be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature.
- Solid: Wood, dried material and manure obtained from plants
- Liquid: Bioethanol and Biodiesel
- Gaseous: Biogas
First Generation Biofuels:
First generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil or animal fat using traditional technology. Primarily the first generation biofuels include biodiesel, vegetable oil, bioethers, and bio-gas.
Second generation biofuels:
These originate from non-food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (wheat and corn stalks and wood). For example, this includes advanced biofuels such as biomethanol.
Third Generation Biofuels:
These are produced from microorganisms such as algae.
Source – The Hindu
