Rocket fuel made from methane and liquid oxygen, known as methalox, is making waves in the aerospace industry. On the night of Saturday 17 May, skywatchers across the US were treated to a peculiar sight: a brilliant stream of whitish light stretching across the sky. Initially thought to be the auroral phenomenon known as STEVE, it was later revealed to be a rocket stage dumping out methalox rocket fuel at an altitude of about 250 kilometers.
Beijing-based startup LandSpace Technology launched its new Zhuque-2E Y2 methane-fueled carrier rocket, bearing six satellites into Earth orbit. About an hour later, the bright stripe appeared in the sky, not far from midnight over much of the US. The stripe was the result of a fuel dump from the rocket’s upper stage.
Methalox is gaining popularity in the aerospace industry due to its cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and ease of storage. It may even be produced on Mars, making crewed missions to the red planet more efficient. The glowing fuel in the upper atmosphere can be attributed to chemical reactions involving carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the components of methane.
The reactions of rocket fuel with the plasma in the ionosphere produce a long-lived glow that can be observed from the ground or space. Rocket fuel masquerading as STEVE is a new experience, but it sure is pretty. With more rocket companies investigating the use of methalox, we may see more such streaks in the sky in the future. If you happen to spot one, now you’ll know what you’re looking at.
