Aside from replacing fossil fuels with a renewable energy source, biofuel rockets may be able to deliver more bang for the buck. The biofuel is denser than traditional rocket fuel so more fits inside the tank. Harrington also suspects biofuel burns a little cleaner, though the engine was not instrumented with sensors during last month's demonstration so no specific measurements were made. "We'd love to do all kinds of fancy measurements," Harrington said. "But we didn't have the money for that." Biodiesel is becoming increasingly more common as an automobile fuel. Last year, alternative fuels powered the Earthrace speed boat during its around-the-world cruise. More recently, Continental Airlines used one of its commercial jets for a biofuel-driven demonstration flight. "It's kind of the sexy thing to do right now," said Laurence Fineberg, a rocket propulsion engineer with NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Related Links: |
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