Tags: NASA, Air Force, Hydrazine, Fuel
Publication: Cleveland.com
Publication Date: 11/18/2012

Artist’s impression of a cube satellite that will help a NASA/industry team test a new "green" propellant. Image credit: NASA

Cheaper, cleaner and safer satellites and spacecraft might be a possibility after 2015 when a $45 million space venture plans to test an experimental alternative fuel. The "Green Propellant Infusion Mission,” is working on developing a fuel called AF-M315E, which would replace the common hydrazine used by NASA, military and commercial satellites.

Hydrazine is a poisonous fuel used to fire thrusters to hold or alter spacecraft’s positions. When fueling a propellant, crews have to be extremely careful, which adds to the already expensive launch costs. AF-M315E is far less toxic and seems to provide the same power as the common fuel.

AF-M315E’s testing has to be perfect to entice satellite operators to use it in lieu of hydrazine. This is why a government-industry team including engineers from NASA and the U.S. Air Force are planning to test the new fuel not just in ground tests but in real space conditions also: the Green Propellant Infusion Mission aims to orbit a small, unmanned spacecraft using modified thrusters fired by AF-M315E. Additionally, the team has to prove that the fuel can be securely stored, transported and loaded before launch while keeping costs in mind.

If successful, the new fuel could help considerably reduce costs for the space industry. Because it’s not toxic, the AF-M315E wouldn’t need a large crew with special suits to handle it, fuel tanks could be smaller because it’s denser than hydrazine, and less quantities of it would actually be required to do the same amount of pushing work. This could all mean major improvements and opportunities for the satellite industry, including opening the door for small customers and academia to launch their own spacecraft.

The potential downside of AF-M315E would be that it burns much hotter than hydrazine, which means manufacturers would need to redesign their spacecraft to accommodate for it.

All eyes will be on the Kennedy Space Center in late 2015 for the testing of this new fuel. The mission will last three to six months to test all capabilities of the AF-M315E.

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