A squad from Cornell University is on an epical distance quest to air a small satellite around the Moon . And if this does n’t seem telling enough , the satellite will be power by weewee .
The team , lead by former NASA primary technologist Mason Peck , is building a humbled - cost , grain - boxful - sized satellite called a CubeSat that will use its water - based propulsion organization to voyage in space .
“ This has a very significant end , and that is to demonstrate that you’re able to utilize water as a propellant , ” said Peck in astatement .
TheCislunar Explorers , as the team is hollo , are competing in the Cube Quest Challenge , one of NASA ’s Centennial Challenges . This technological test will give $ 5.5 million to any team that can design , ramp up , and give birth small satellites capable of entering range around the Moon .
Cislunar Explorers is competing to be one of three teams that will get to jerk a ride to the Moon on NASA’sSpace Launch Systemin early 2018 .
“ Of course , we ’d like to be the first CubeSat to orbit the Sun Myung Moon , ” Peck said , “ but even if we do n’t , if we can successfully show that water is all you require to travel in blank , we ’ve gone a farseeing way toward achieve some important goals . ”
To use water as a fuel , the team developed a newfangled glide slope to electrolysis , a technique that uses electricity to develop apart urine molecules . The H and oxygen extract are all you need to make rocket fuel . After sweeping past the Moon , it will use this summons to bring forth propulsion and attempt to accede orbit .
“ A lot of the mass we mail into field these day is in the shape of rockets – the only way we get anything into space , ” Peck said .
“ But what if we could use what ’s already there ? If we could do that , if we could refuel spacecraft while they ’re already in space , that means that we could go farther , plausibly faster , probably fulfil a tidy sum more , and we would n’t rely on Earth for supply . ”
The winner of the next form of the contender will be announced on October 24 .
What the Cislunar Explorers ' CubeSats look like . Kyle Doyle
