ETFdb Logo
  • ETF Database
  • Channels
    • Themes
      • Active ETF
      • Alternatives Channel
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • China Insights
      • Climate Insights
      • Core Strategies
      • Crypto
      • Disruptive Technology
      • Energy Infrastructure
      • ETF Building Blocks
      • ETF Education
      • ETF Investing
      • ETF Strategist
      • Faith-Based Investing
      • Financial Literacy
      • Fixed Income
      • Free Cash Flow
      • Innovative ETFs
      • Invest Beyond Cash
      • Leveraged & Inverse
      • Modern Alpha
      • Portfolio Strategies
      • Tax Efficient Income
    • Asset Class
      • Equity
        • U.S. Equity
        • Int'l Developed
        • Emerging Market Equities
      • Alternatives
        • Gold/Silver/Critical Materials
        • Crypytocurrency
        • Currency
        • Volatility
      • Fixed Income
        • Investment Grade Corporates
        • US Treasuries & TIPS
        • High Yield Corporates
        • Int'l Fixed Income
    • ETF Ecosystem
    • ETFs in Canada
    • Market Outlook
    • Crypto ETF Hub
  • Tools
    • ETF Screener
    • ETF Country Exposure Tool
    • ETF Database Categories
    • Indexes
    • Scenario Analysis
    • Watchlists
    • Head-To-Head ETF Comparison Tool
    • Mutual Fund To ETF Converter
    • ETF Stock Exposure Tool
    • ETF Issuer Fund Flows
  • Research
    • ETF Education
    • Equity Investing
    • Dividend ETFs
    • Leveraged ETFs
    • Inverse ETFs
    • Index Education
    • Index Insights
    • Top ETF Sectors
    • Top ETF Issuers
    • Top ETF Industries
  • Webcasts
  • Themes
    • AI ETFs
    • Blockchain ETFs
    • See all Thematic Investing ETF themes
    • ESG Investing
    • Marijuana ETFs
  • Multimedia
    • ETF 360 Video Series
    • ETF of the Week Podcast
    • Gaining Perspective Podcast
    • ETF Prime Podcast
    • Video
  • Company
    • About VettaFi
    • Get VettaFi’ed
  • PRO
    • Pro Content
    • Pro Tools
    • Advanced
    • FAQ
    • Pricing
    • Free Sign Up
    • Login
  1. Biofuels Can Reduce Environmental Impact of Launches
News
Share

Biofuels Can Reduce Environmental Impact of Launches

Evan HarpNov 08, 2021
2021-11-08

Even though space flight involves leaving the Earth, like every other sector, it is contending with its environmental impact. Two British rocket startups are claiming that their technology can reduce spaceflight’s carbon footprint through renewable fuel.

Both Skyrora and Orbex have unique solutions to the carbon emissions problem. Skyrora plans to utilize a fuel that is made from non-recyclable plastics. Orbex, meanwhile, has a biopropane solution. Biopropane is a natural gas created as a byproduct of producing biodiesel. When a rocket launches into space, it requires an enormous amount of energy.

One of the chief obstacles of the space tourism industry is environmental impact. Carbon dioxide emissions are inevitable with rocket launches, but the carbon cost of attaining the fuel needed to reach orbit is often greater than the cost of the launch itself. The negative carbon footprint associated with pivoting to more sustainably sourced materials can do wonders for emissions reduction in space-related industries.

Orbex’s biopropane fuel has the added benefit of significantly reducing the amount of soot injected into the atmosphere upon launch. Initial test launches have found that the company’s Prime rocket almost entirely eliminated soot emissions when using the biopropane fuel.

Skyrora’s novel plastics-based fuel has yet to be used in an orbital launch, but the early testing is promising. “The plastics that we are using actually come from waste disposal,” CEO Derek Harris said. “We even get paid to take it, so feedstock is a negative value.” Initial tests saw a reduction of 40% in overall emissions, including soot, sulfur, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

Other firms are also exploring biofuel options.

Promising Signs for the Industry

It may be early days for these technologies, but they generate exciting opportunities across the entire sector as other firms explore what they can do with these new technologies or attempt to create their own superior versions. Investors can get exposure to 30 space-related companies through the Procure Space ETF (UFO B-).


Content continues below advertisement

Procure Space ETF

UFO contains a number of bleeding-edge companies that have their hands in satellite production, space tourism, and telecommunications. The fact that sustainable options are being explored bodes well for the entire space as investors begin to put more stock in greener investments.

Space-related technologies are poised to benefit not only from the innovation of the private sector, but also from the investment of the public sector. Reducing emissions on rocket launches might seem narrow in application, but innovations initially utilized for space have a way of reverberating throughout the entire economy. Technologies like memory foam and even water filters are the result of innovative solutions coming from solving problems associated with space travel.

Some of UFO’s top holdings include satellite firm EchoStar Corp and space technology company Maxar, which has pioneered electric propulsion (EP) technology that is more efficient than chemical propulsion systems in much the same way that electric cars are more efficient than ones that utilize gasoline.

UFO has an expense ratio of 0.75% and tracks the S-Network Space Index.

For more news, information, and strategy, visit ETF Trends.

» Popular Pages

  • Tickers
  • Articles

Jun 13

Main Management Market Note: June 13, 2025

Jun 13

Stocks Rally in May as Tariff Fears Subside; Long Yields Move Higher

Jun 13

Boeing Stock Continues to Take Flight After April Sell-Off

Jun 13

The Value of Balancing Bitcoin With T-Bills

Jun 13

Look Across the Pond for Small-Cap Winners

Jun 13

Schwab Debuts Government Money Market ETF

Jun 13

What Closed-End Funds Could Offer Amid Uncertain Times

Jun 13

Midstream/MLP ETFs See Strong Flows Amid Outperformance YTD

Jun 13

Some Undervalued Tech Stocks Reside in This ETF

Jun 12

Bitcoin Miners Could Find Big Opportunity in Data Centers

QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust Series I

VOO

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

IBIT

iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF

SPY

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

SCHD

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF...

IVV

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

GLD

SPDR Gold Shares

AIQ

Global X Artificial...

SMH

VanEck Semiconductor ETF

CNBS

Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF


Content continues below advertisement

Loading Articles...
Our Sites
  • VettaFi
  • Advisor Perspectives
  • ETF Trends
Tools
  • ETF Screener
  • Mutual Fund to ETF Converter
  • Head-To-Head ETF Comparison
  • ETF Country Exposure Tool
  • ETF Stock Exposure Tool
  • ETF Database Pro
More Tools
  • Financial Advisor & RIA Center
Explore ETFs
  • ETF News
  • ETF Category Reports
  • Premium Articles
  • Alphabetical Listing of ETFs
  • Browse ETFs by ETF Database Category
  • Browse ETFs by Index
  • Browse ETFs by Issuer
  • Compare ETFs
Information
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
  • © 2025 VettaFi LLC. All rights reserved.

Advertisement

Is Your Portfolio Positioned With Enough Global Exposure?

ETF Education Channel

How to Allocate Commodities in Portfolios

Tom LydonApr 26, 2022
2022-04-26

A long-running debate in asset allocation circles is how much of a portfolio an investor should...

Core Strategies Channel

Why ETFs Experience Limit Up/Down Protections

Karrie GordonMay 13, 2022
2022-05-13

In a digital age where information moves in milliseconds and millions of participants can transact...

}
X