Popcorn & Rockets?

Have you ever waited impatiently for a bag of popcorn in the microwave to finish popping? Everybody knows that watching a movie is always better with this buttery treat. Did you know that the same technology inside your microwave which causes popcorn to pop is being studied for use in launching rockets into space?

Scientists are looking at a way that microwaves or “ground-based lasers” could zap a heat exchanger on a rocket and release more energy from the rocket’s fuel. The heat exchanger would work like a hot plate. This is pretty similar to the burners on top of the stove in your house. Has your mom or dad ever warned you not to touch it because it was really hot? The rocket’s burner would heat up the temperature of the fuel to more than 3,100 degrees Fahrenheit to help the rocket lift off into space.

This new method would cost a lot of money to put into place, but would have lots of benefits in the long run. The parts of these types of systems are much simpler so they break less easily and they are not explosive, so it’s much safer too. Another great benefit of these types of launch is that the only exhaust is hydrogen, so it is safer for the environment. So the next time you enjoy a tasty bag of popcorn, think about the rocket that might be launched using similar technology!

http://news.discovery.com/space/laser-launch-rocket-110215.html