Air Force & NASA Fire Off Green Rocket

coondoggie writes "NASA and the Air Force said today they had successfully launched a 9-ft. rocket 1,300 feet into the sky, powered by aluminum powder and water ice. This combination of fuel elements, referred to as ALICE, has the potential to replace some liquid or solid propellants. The technology is being developed at Purdue University and Pennsylvania State University. Aside from its environmental benefiits, ALICE has the advantage that it could be manufactured in far-away places, such as the moon or Mars, instead of being transported to distant horizons at great cost, researchers said."

To the Moon

[bobdotorg]

I suspect that the rocket's first stage will have a Radium - Aluminum - Phosphorus based fuel (RAALPh) and will propel the ALICE stage to the moon. Straight to the moon. One of these days.

Re:Hm...

[MichaelSmith]

It would be easier if water could be found on the moon.

Re:To the Moon

[Nefarious Wheel]

I suspect that the rocket's first stage will have a Radium - Aluminum - Phosphorus based fuel (RAALPh) and will propel the ALICE stage to the moon. Straight to the moon. One of these days.

Oh. Mod points gone. Oh my ribs...

Re:Ethical question

[pushing-robot]

aluminium

Oh dear lord, not this again.

• The discoverer (Sir Humphry Davy) spelled it Aluminum.
• Aluminum saves a syllable.
• NASA, the subject of this article, spells it Aluminum.
• IUPAC accepts the spelling Aluminum.
• A-loo-mi-num has such a nice... woody quality about it, while Al-yoo-min-i-um is a nasty tinny sort of thing.

... Q.E.D.

Re:Ethical question

[martas]

I'm the founder of a world-wide organization whose aim it is to execute every person to have ever used the "aluminum" spelling. I'm very serious about this. You should be, too.

Re:To the Moon

[damburger]

As would much of the wildlife in the range

Re:Aluminum powder is green?

[lxs]

When has green not meant better?

When describing your great aunt's complexion after eating the funny tasting crab salad.