Imagine turning water into rocket fuel. Sounds like science fiction, right? A San Francisco-based startup called General Galactic is betting big on this wild idea, and they might just change space exploration forever.

Founded by two Stanford engineering grads, Halen Mattison and Luke Neise, General Galactic is preparing to launch a groundbreaking satellite mission that could revolutionize how we think about propulsion in space. Their ambitious plan involves using water as the primary propellant, potentially solving one of the biggest challenges in long-distance space travel.

The startup’s approach is twofold: they’ll demonstrate both chemical and electrical propulsion methods using water. For chemical propulsion, they’ll use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, burning hydrogen with oxygen as an oxidizer. In the electrical approach, they’ll transform oxygen into plasma and shoot it out using magnetic fields.

This isn’t just a theoretical exercise. General Galactic has already secured a launch spot on a Falcon 9 rocket, with plans to fly an 1,100-pound satellite later this fall. If successful, their technology could make US satellites more maneuverable and provide critical advantages in an increasingly contested orbital environment.

The potential implications are massive. By creating a “gas station” concept for space travel, they could dramatically reduce the weight and complexity of spacecraft. Their long-term vision includes establishing refueling networks between Earth, the Moon, and potentially Mars.

Skeptics point out significant challenges. Ionized oxygen can be corrosive, and the efficiency of water-based propulsion remains unproven at scale. However, the startup has already raised $10 million in venture capital and attracted expertise from former SpaceX and NASA professionals.

As space becomes increasingly strategic, with growing tensions between global powers, innovations like General Galactic’s could be game-changers. Their mission represents a quintessential Bay Area approach: bold innovation, technological optimism, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.

The space industry is watching closely. If General Galactic succeeds, water might just become the unexpected fuel of our interplanetary future.