Noshiro: A team of researchers from Kanagawa University launched a hybrid rocket from the coast of northeastern Japan on Saturday that used plastic waste as part of fuels, making a step forward toward sustainable space development.

A hybrid rocket is touted for its low cost and safety advantages.

It is powered by liquid fuels such as nitrous oxide and is free from the danger of an explosion or hazardous gas emissions.

The team’s rocket introduced waste from plastic models from the “Gundam”

Japanese amine series as part of fuels, in cooperation with Bandai Namco Holdings Inc, the maker of the plastic models.

The plastic waste was recycled into rocket fuel using the processing technology of Shinshu University in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan.

The rocket lifted off from the coast of Noshiro, Akita Prefecture.

The launch proved that a plastic waste-powered rocket can fly, said Atsushi Takano, professor at Kanagawa University in Yokohama, who leads the team.

“We hope that this will help encourage people to put up plastic waste for recycling,” Takano said.

Kanagawa University started developing hybrid rockets in 2014.

A rocket launched last year reached an altitude of about 10.1 kilometers, a Japanese record for the type of launch vehicle.

JIJI Press