#Tag · 𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶

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The #3Dprinted prototype was able to generate thrust more #efficiently than larger, more expensive #chemical rockets and outperformed existing droplet #electrospray engines. It can be produced rapidly and for a fraction of the #cost 💵 of traditional thrusters and even be fully made in #orbit 🌌 https://news.mit.edu/2025/mit-engineers-develop-fully-3d-printed-electrospray-engine-0212

Electric propulsion systems are not #energy limited. An arbitrarily large amount of energy can be delivered (from a #solar ☀️ or #nuclear ☢️ power system) to a given mass of propellant so that the exhaust velocity (or specific impulse) can be much larger than that available from a #chemical propulsion system. Electric propulsion systems are termed " #power 🔋 limited" https://sci.esa.int/web/smart-1/-/34201-electric-spacecraft-propulsion?section=electric-versus-chemical-propulsion

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#Microorganisms 🦠 as #SpaceFood : The demand for food 🍽️ increases greatly when the duration ⏳ of #space endeavors lengthens. It will be essential that edible #microbial biomass also enables the production of #appealing 😋 foods. #3dFoodPrinting 🖨️ technologies make it possible to manufacture more complex food 🍗 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33974-7

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Future #astronauts may be able to recycle ♻️ their #breath into #plant food—and ultimately into fresh vegetables 🥕. Lettuce 🥗 grown on acetate could be a step toward plants that can grow in the dark by thriving on #chemical 🧪 rather than solar ☀️ energy. https://www.science.org/content/article/crops-grown-without-sunlight-could-help-feed-astronauts-bound-mars