/sci/ - Science & Math

Brits developing fingernail sized microsatellite thruster that uses water as propellant, Portugal adopts new space law, Congressman wants to simplify space agency responsibilites (also has an interview with the dude)
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https://spaceref.com/newspace-and-tech/ice-cube-mini-thruster-could-propel-deep-space-missions-with-water/
> ICE-Cube Mini-Thruster Could Propel Deep Space Missions With Water
> The thruster project is called the Iridium Catalysed Electrolysis CubeSat Thruster (ICE-Cube Thruster), and is based at the United Kingdom’s Imperial College. It’s a tiny thruster, just fingernail-sized, and uses only 20 watts of power to produce electrolysis (through hydrogen and oxygen.)
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https://europeanspaceflight.com/portugal-adopts-new-space-law/
> Portugal Adopts New Space Law
> Portugal has adopted a suite of new legislation aimed at regulating the licensing process for space objects, whether launching and returning vehicles to and from space or placing satellites into orbit.
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https://payloadspace.com/rep-eric-sorensen-on-space-travel-safety-and-shuttle-ties/
> Rep. Eric Sorensen on Space Travel, Safety and Shuttle Ties
> Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), the ranking member of the House space subcommittee, pointed out the multitude of groups that have a hand in regulating spaceflight, from the FAA to the FCC to the Commerce Department to the DoD. He said it’s something he wants to address in the NASA reauthorization bill, which Congress is in the midst of considering.
> “There are so many different agencies that require collaboration, and at each one of these intersection points, I’m worried that there is a crack in safety,” Sorensen told Payload. “Those are some of the initial things we’ll have to solve as commercial spaceflight takes center stage.”