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Warren Campbell
Mrs. DeBock
English IV
November 17, 2014
Rocket Fuel
A new type of fuel for rockets is a necessity for the human race if we are to ever take
space exploration even further. If there is a hope of venturing further into our solar system, the
first thing that should be taken into consideration is a new type of power source to propel a heavy
lift rocket into space. Many different version of rockets and sources of energy have been used in
history since the beginning of the space age. In science, there are a variety of fuel for rockets, but
only a select few are eligible for deep space travel. The problem is finding a new and improved
source of energy is not as simple as one might think.
Firstly, there are only certain amount of fuel that can be used in space flight, and even a
fewer amount that can be possibly used for deep space travel. A new creation that has been
invented is the cryotank. It is a tank that holds liquid hydrogen used as rocket propulsion for lift
that is made from composite materials (Morring). Most fuel used in lift offs are composed of
mainly either a liquid or a solid. A suggested idea substitute is solar power but it is too weak to
push the rocket forward.
Secondly, another issue that comes into play is the creation of a new rocket, more
favorably, a heavy lift rocket capable of carrying many supplies and a crew. The three biggest
contestants for designing such a project are NASA, Space X, and the Air Force (Sweetman).
Since building a new rocket is expensive, a suggested type of rocket is one that is reusable and

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leans more to the inexpensive side (Sweetman). This significance could change the space age
dramatically as we know it as of today. As we start to enter a new era, we as humans must take
baby steps if we are to be able to travel interstellar in the future.
So far the most recent and up to date engine being developed is a new type of fuel tank
called the cryotank. The engine, developed by the company Reaction Engines, will intake air and
covert it to liquid oxygen to be combined with liquid hydrogen to use as fuel (Thisdell). To make
this type of engine reusable is currently underway but some people dont see private space
companies actually going down that route (Thisdell). These engines are also only for commercial
space flight and not meant to be used for far distance such as that both Voyagers one and two
have gone. Developing the cryotank is only a small step for potential that could be released in the
near future.
There is still a long way to go before we as a human race have an engine and fuel capable
of carrying us further and further in to the endless cosmos. As each year passes we are taking
baby steps to ultimate space travel and exploration of the extraterrestrial planets and moons.
There may be a possibility for a new type of fuel but for now, there are only a limited amount of
sources of energy that has the potential to propel a heavy lift rocket into the solar system. The
continuation of the years in the space age still gives us hope that we might have a broader look
on our galaxy.