: IIT Alumni Develop Satellite Fuel That is 40 Times Less Toxic, Lowers Costs by 60% #IndiaNEWS #Maharashtra India is one of a few countries known to make successful, cost-effective space launches.

IIT Alumni Develop Satellite Fuel That is 40 Times Less Toxic, Lowers Costs by 60% #IndiaNEWS #Maharashtra
India is one of a few countries known to make successful, cost-effective space launches. The Mangalyaan Mars orbiter and Chandrayaan-2 are the best displays of this feat. India has also made a record of launching the largest number of satellites in one go 2017 104 of them.
However, launching a satellite and its payload costs almost the same as its manufacturing expenses. Moreover, the fuel used in these satellites, that allows manoeuvring in space, is toxic and hazardous to human health.
A Mumbai-based space startup, Manastu Space Technologies Pvt Ltd, is trying to solve these two major problems in this field with three innovations. The startup claims to bring down the toxicity levels by up to 40 times and make it 25 per cent more efficient.
“Like any vehicle, a satellite consists of fuel, an engine to burn it and a catalyst that functions like a spark plug to ignite the fuel. We have innovated on all the three levels,??? says Tushar Jadhav, IIT alumni, ex-Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and co-founder of the startup.
About 40 per cent of the weight in a satellite comprises the fuel, and the remaining is occupied by the payload, which mainly includes instruments to carry out experiments.
The fuel in the satellites ensures efficient working of instruments in extreme temperatures. The fuel gets used for navigation like changing the orbit, increasing or decreasing the speed or changing the orientation of the satellite with thrusters.
The Satellite Innovation
I-Booster thruster developed by Manastu Space Technologies Put Ltd
“At present, hydrazine is the fuel used in satellites which are highly toxic. Its toxicity levels are equivalent to potassium cyanide, a life-threatening and carcinogenic chemical. We are using hydrogen peroxide and additives to reduce the toxicity to the level of common salt,??? Tushar says.
“Every material has its own toxicity levels. If consumed in excess, it becomes life-threatening. Many scientists have to work in hazardous and high-risk environments. As the fuel is filled in these satellites, all other work is put on hold and the exercise is conducted in isolation,??? says Ashtesh Kumar, an ex-IITian co-founder, specialising in combustion and propulsion.
Ashtesh says the new fuel will pose fewer risks to scientists. He explains, “The second major problem with hydrazine fuel is that it is less efficient. The newly developed fuel is 25 per cent more efficient, similar to what mileage is for a vehicle on earth. As 25 per cent of less fuel will be required the cost to launch the weight per kg will reduce, making it much more effective. ??? The safer handling of fuel also means reducing the operational costs to 60 per cent.

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