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Could ‘SpaceSAF’ Enable a Sustainable Future for Spaceflight?

New solution introduced by Salt Lake City-based CleanJoule promises to reduce spaceflight emissions while improving fuel energy density.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM ET

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SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket runs on 27 Merlin engineers powered by RP-1, a common rocket propellant for which CleanJoule says it has developed a “drop-in” replacement. [Courtesy: SpaceX/Flickr]

Key Takeaways:

CleanJoule introduced SpaceSAF, a 100% sustainable "drop-in" fuel derived from waste biomass, designed to replace traditional RP-1 in first-stage rockets to decarbonize spaceflight.
SpaceSAF offers a 4% improvement in energy density over petroleum-derived fuels and significantly reduces particulate matter, potentially extending rocket range or increasing cargo capacity.
Beyond space, CleanJoule is also developing CycloSAF, a full-performance, 100% unblended sustainable aviation fuel for commercial aircraft, which boasts 10% higher energy content per unit volume than current alternatives.
The company is conducting engine testing with partners, aiming for full-scale tests in 2025, to make these advanced sustainable fuel options commercially available to major rocket service providers and airlines.

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To reach net-zero emissions by 2050—a target widely held by members of an aviation industry that is responsible for about 2 percent of carbon dioxide emissions globally—researchers estimate that sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will contribute to about 65 percent of that goal.

Efforts to promote the switch to SAF have largely focused on the commercial aviation sector. But one Utah-based firm is looking at a different kind of aviation: spaceflight.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.