CO2-To-Fuel Tech (Originally Developed for Mars), Can help E...

SpaceX Alums Create a “Mars-Inspired” CO2-To-Fuel Technology that can really help

It's not every day that you hear about someone using their interplanetary aspirations to save our blue planet, but that's exactly what Halen Mattison and Luke Neise, former spacex aficionados, are doing. How about if one day you are: two prophetic engineers with their heads in the Martian clouds have their feet firmly planted back on Earth, tinkering with reactors that convert carbon dioxide into methane. Not for Mars anymore, but right here, in the comfort of our earthly atmosphere.

The Birth of General Galactic

The duo originally set outed on a mission to sell their reactors to SpaceX to support the burgeoning space colony ambitions of Elon Musk. But like many space-age inventors, they soon finded their technology's earthly potential, realizing that their CO2-to-methane Tech could be a boon to our planet's energy needs.

“We think that's a big missing piece in the energy mix right now,” said Mattison, General Galactic's CEO. “Being able to own our supply chains, to be able to fully control all of the parameters, to challenge the requirements between parts, all of that open ups some real elegance in the engineering solution.”

Welcome to the brave new world of General Galactic, a startup that burst onto the scene in April and has been quietly producing a pilot system capable of churning out 2,000 liters of methane per day. While that might not yet rival the methane levels during a frat house taco night, it's a start.

From Stealth to Spotlight

In tech wizardry meets startup stealth, Mattison and Neise emerged with their sensational tech after working in various roles at SpaceX and Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory. Their pivot from outer space aspirations to terrestrial triumphs exemplifies a growing trend among climate tech founders: sometimes the most sensational findies intended for space can make a larger impact right here on Earth.

The company's reactors are set to develop industries by providing a greener, synthetic alternative to methane, currently being extracted from beneath the Earth's crust with methods that make a Game of Thrones siege look like a garden party.

Methane: The Marvelous Methane

Although methane might not have the glamour of hydrogen or the celebrity status of solar, its applications are plentiful. General Galactic isn't attempting to replace natural gabout heating or electricity. Those areas, Mattison notes, are heading towards electrification faster than a tech billionaire heads towards the moon.

“Those are generally going toward electrification,” he said. Instead, it intends to sell its methane to companies that use it as an ingredient or to power a process, like in chemical or plastic manufacturing. The company isn't ruling out transportation entirely either. Mattison hinted that General Galactic is working on other hydrocarbons that could be used for transportation, like jet fuel. “Stay tuned,” he said.

Building Blocks of a New Era

To meet commercial demand, General Galactic's reactors will eventually be produced using mass production techniques—a stark contrast to the typical slow-motion opera that is building traditional petrochemical and energy facilities. In essence, they're bringing Silicon Valley's love of streamlined assembly to the grittier world of energy production.

According to Neise, the company plans to deploy its first modules next year. Like any Silicon Valley startup, it dreams of plug-and-play modules that merge smoothly with existing infrastructure, making adoption smoother than persuading a San Franciscan to go vegan.

General Galactic, which emerged from stealth in April, has built a pilot system

Laughing All the Way to the Methane Bank

There's a delicious irony in space technologies coming back down to Earth. It's as if these young companies are pulling a reverse Tesla, aiming to electrify and revolutionize our terrestrial domains with innovations initially conceived for celestial bodies.

• Integration with Existing Systems: Their reactors promise to be more flexible than a yoga instructor at sunrise.
• Reduction in Carbon Footprint: Swapping subterranean extraction for synthetic production helps cut emissions, potentially improving the atmosphere for humans and mosquitoes alike.
• Expansion : The company has hinted at potential ventures into other hydrocarbons, making industry experts as excited as a barista with a new cold brew flavor.

In the End, Mars Dreams Propel Earth Realities

As climate change continues to challenge traditional energy sources, General Galactic's sensational invention approach could potentially steer the industry towards a greener subsequent time ahead. So, next time you look up at the night sky, bear in mind the path to a lasting Earth might just lie among the stars—and the dreams of a few prophetic alums who, once set on Mars, now have their eyes on transforming our own backyard.

Indeed, the idea of turning space-bound dreams into earthly realities brings a wisdom and irony that we all need in our often tumultuous news cycle. As the late great CMO Robin Williams might have quipped, “In space, no one can hear you scream about fossil fuels.”

Argonne researchers exploit with finessed their water modeling expertise to develop the CO₂Rue module, which is now part of the WATER (Water Analysis Tool for Energy Resources) model.

So stay tuned and keep your solar-powered flashlight handy—General Galactic's subsequent time ahead looks bright, with or without Martian skies.