This Startup Thinks It Can Make Rocket Fuel From Water. Stop Laughing

The article discusses a startup called General Galactic, founded by two young engineers, that aims to revolutionize space propulsion by using water as rocket fuel—a concept long theorized but never successfully demonstrated at scale. Their upcoming Trinity mission plans to launch an 1,100-pound satellite that will use water as its sole propellant, employing two propulsion methods: chemical propulsion via electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for combustion, and electric propulsion using a Hall thruster that ionizes water-derived plasma for efficient thrust. This dual approach aims to combine the high thrust of chemical rockets with the efficiency and longevity of electric propulsion. General Galactic’s innovation addresses a critical challenge in space exploration: creating a sustainable refueling infrastructure to enable deeper space missions, such as establishing a gas station on Mars and building a network of in-space refueling points. Beyond exploration, their technology could enhance satellite maneuverability amid rising geopolitical tensions in orbit, providing rapid response capabilities to avoid close encounters with rival satellites. The founders, who met