BERLIN (Reuters) -On Friday, German company HyImpulse conducted a test suborbital flight with a candle wax-powered rocket. This event signifies the inaugural use of a commercial satellite-capable rocket.
“We’re signalling Germany’s prowess as a spacefaring nation and expanding Europe’s access to space,” HyImpulse’s chief executive Mario Kobald said in a statement.
The 12-metre, 2.5-tonne test rocket dubbed “SR75” lifted off shortly after 0500 GMT from a launch site in Koonibba, South Australia.
It is capable of carrying small satellites weighing up to 250 kg (551 pounds) to an altitude of up to 250 km (155 miles) while being fuelled by paraffin, or candle wax, and liquid oxygen.
HyImpulse states that paraffin provides a cheaper and safer alternative for rocket fuel. This alternative could potentially reduce satellite transportation costs by up to 50%.
The company, spun off from Germany’s space agency DLR, employs 65 people. It has already secured orders for satellite transportation worth €100 million.
The project was mostly privately financed with “some public backing”, the startup’s statement said.
Hyimpulse aims to expand as demand for commercial satellites grows, and it is eyeing 700 million euros worth of annual sales by 2032.
Transitioning, the Candle Wax Rocket’s test flight demonstrates the feasibility of alternative propulsion methods in space exploration. Firstly, it underscores the importance of innovation and creativity in overcoming technological challenges.
Moreover, the Candle Wax Rocket’s journey into space symbolizes humanity’s relentless pursuit of knowledge and discovery.
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