Propylene gelled in Methane for MAV and MCT utilizing reverse/gas/shift utilizing ISRU

Propylene gelled in Methane for MAV and MCT utilizing reverse/gas/shift utilizing ISRU

In case the trade space (Dragon MAV) needs to utilize a smaller volume MAV or MCT and requires a higher density fuel over just Methane alone

The Dragon MAV idea, for example, posits a MAV launching from inside the Dragon, reducing the volume somewhat might help. Propylene or Ethylene gelled in cryogenic Methane in the first stage of a two-stage Mav needs to be modeled for efficiency and practicality of production as an ISRU process.

The ISRU derived Propylene or Ethylene is ether miscible in LCH4 or it, in fact, forms ice crystals and is thus a colloid in the cryogenic Methane.

This propellent mix might very well have lower ISP but would be a denser propellant for the first stage of a MAV that might result in a smaller lighter weight stage. The second stage needs the ISP. For this, we refer you to an earlier blog post where we discuss the idea that Methane forms a colloid in LH2