The Future Is Now: Scientists Claim Fuel-Free Spacecrafts Now Possible

Graphene are atom-thick sheets of carbon considered as miracle material. Now, scientists claim that it can be used to run spacecraft through fuel-free light-powered propulsion system. In layman's term, it can turn light into movement.

NewScientists reports that a team from Nankai University in Tianjin, China discovered the special capability of graphene by "playing with pencils and sticky tape". Yongsheng Chen and his colleague observed that the material's flat surface is a strong conductor of electricity and heat. So, they experimented and tried to determine if that characteristic will still remain even with larger arrangements of carbon.

The team reported earlier this year about the details of the graphene sponge, which is made "by fusing crumpled sheets of graphene oxide." They discovered that light can propel the material forward. One explanation is that the material can act as a solar sail. The Planetary Society in Pasadena, California tested the technology using a small solar sail, and found out that the forces were too large to come solely from photons.

According to Chen, "While the Propulsion force is still smaller than conventional chemical rockets, it is already several orders larger than that from light pressure."

Paolo Lozano from the Massachusettes Institute of Technology said that the best rocket is one that does not need fuel. Chen's team figured out that graphene can in fact run rockets using light.

Graphene is made out of carbon atoms arranged in such a way that they look like honeycomb lattice. It is 200% stronger compared to steel. It is as flexible as rubber, but is more conductive than copper. Scientists consider graphene as a "wonder material" because of these attributes. There are even scientists who have figured out a way to turn graphene into a supercapacitor, strong enough to charge electric cars in a matter of four minutes. Graphene could really become a valuable building material for spacecrafts.