Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesEnergy

Taking Off with Sustainability: Vaya Space Propels Rockets Using Recycled Plastics

In a world plagued by environmental concerns, Vaya Space emerges as a trailblazer, revolutionizing rocket fuel with their groundbreaking technology. Evelyn Stein, a payload systems engineer at Vaya Space, sheds light on their unique approach, combining recycling and 3D printing to create fuel-grade thermoplastics. By harnessing the power of recycled materials, Vaya Space not…

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Energy teams put it to work with Customer Stories & Case Studies.

Share
Taking Off with Sustainability: Vaya Space Propels Rockets Using Recycled Plastics

Get featured

Want to get featured in MarketScale Energy?

Create a free MarketScale workspace and get your company's expertise featured across our Energy coverage. No credit card, no demo required.

Request an invite

In a world plagued by environmental concerns, Vaya Space emerges as a trailblazer, revolutionizing rocket fuel with their groundbreaking technology. Evelyn Stein, a payload systems engineer at Vaya Space, sheds light on their unique approach, combining recycling and 3D printing to create fuel-grade thermoplastics. By harnessing the power of recycled materials, Vaya Space not only reduces waste but also propels us into a greener future.

Through their innovative process, Vaya Space recycles high-density polyethylene, such as the caps of water bottles, transforming them into fuel grains using 3D printing. When subjected to the right pressure and ignited, these grains melt and turn into gas, aided by an oxidizer known as “locks.” This ingenious method not only provides us with a clean source of energy but also serves as a testament to human ingenuity.

Moreover, Vaya Space boasts a portfolio of patented and patent-pending technologies that push the boundaries of the industry. Their vortex injector, a groundbreaking invention resembling a tornado or hurricane, creates a vortex of oxidizer flow, ensuring efficient engine performance. This ingenuity paves the way for more advancements in the field, propelling us towards a future where space exploration aligns harmoniously with sustainability.

However, Vaya Space’s impact transcends the realm of technology. With each rocket launch, they leverage a staggering 20 metric tons of thermoplastics, effectively removing plastics from our planet. As the self-proclaimed greenest rocket company on Earth, Vaya Space sets an example for the entire industry to follow, reminding us that sustainable practices can thrive even in the most advanced technological fields.

Not only does Vaya Space’s innovative approach contribute to environmental preservation, but it also positions them as a dominant player in the market. Their primary mission of water vapor, coupled with their cost-effectiveness, places them in a prime position to capture a substantial share of the market. With costs 50% lower than their competitors in the segment, Vaya Space not only ignites our imagination but also demonstrates that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

As we gaze towards the stars, Vaya Space shows us that the future of space exploration can be both awe-inspiring and environmentally responsible. Their pioneering use of recycled thermoplastics and cost-effective solutions marks a significant leap forward in the industry. By harnessing the power of sustainability, Vaya Space propels us towards a future where we reach for the stars while leaving a greener footprint on our planet.

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Energy starts with a company putting its field engineers, operations leads, and project developers on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Developers and operators shortlist on credibility, and your engineers give your sales team something real to send.

Get your team featuredSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

Follow Energy Insights

Get new expert content in your inbox.

Energy: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Energy buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Energy expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your field engineers, operations leads, and project developers into the articles, video, and social content Energy buyers are searching for. Create a free workspace and see it with your own people. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Energy Insights

Europe’s diesel premium just broke $100 a barrel, and logistics budgets will feel it first

Europe’s diesel premium just broke $100 a barrel, and logistics budgets will feel it first

Europe’s diesel crack spread rose above $100 a barrel for the first time, the Financial Times reported. Logistics budgets will feel it first. Fleet and facilities operators should expect pressure on fuel surcharges, backup power planning, and contract terms.

  • 01A $100-plus diesel crack spread is a procurement signal, refiners are being paid for diesel scarcity, not crude cost, so index clauses tied only to Brent can miss the real pain.
  • 02Low EU gas inventories raise the odds of fuel-switching into distillates during peaks, which can tighten diesel supply right when trucking and backup generators compete for the same barrel.

Sep 4, 2026

U.S. grid batteries are set to top 100 GW by 2028, changing peak prices

U.S. grid batteries are set to top 100 GW by 2028, changing peak prices

U.S. utility-scale battery storage reached nearly 52 GW of nameplate capacity by June 2026 after adding 8.3 GW in the first six months of the year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The same EIA planning data shows 54 GW more is planned for the second half of 2026 through 2028, including 14 GW in the second half of 2026, 26 GW in 2027, and 14 GW in 2028. pv magazine USA reports total national operational storage capacity is expected to pass 105 GW by the end of 2028. Solar photovoltaic plants host the largest battery storage capacity units, including AES’ Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm in California and Florida Power & Light’s Manatee Solar Energy Center in Florida, according to EIA.

  • 01The planning benchmark that matters for 2027 to 2028 contracts: EIA’s reported pipeline implies U.S. battery nameplate capacity could roughly double from ~52 GW to ~106 GW by end of 2028 if schedules hold.
  • 02Storage penetration is becoming a pricing question, not a technology question. pv magazine USA points to ERCOT growing from 15 GW (2025) to 37 GW (end of 2027), a level that could alter who sets the marginal price in evening peaks and how much capacity value peakers retain.

Sep 3, 2026

NuScale and Nucor’s SMR talks put firm power back in industrial planning

NuScale and Nucor’s SMR talks put firm power back in industrial planning

NuScale Power and Nucor signed an MOU to explore co-locating NuScale VOYGR small modular nuclear reactor plants near Nucor electric arc furnace steel mills, including studies of site suitability, transmission interconnection capability, and capital costs, according to POWER Magazine. The move lands as commercial and industrial energy buyers are re-evaluating “return quality” across distributed energy resource value stacks, a dynamic pv magazine USA illustrated with Massachusetts electricity rates rising to about 20.9 cents/kWh for commercial customers in 2024, up roughly 61% from 2014. At the same time, grid-facing flexibility is getting practical attention, with Renewable Energy World’s Factor This reporting on managed EV charging and vehicle-to-grid reforms needed to scale V2X. For operators, the implication is clear: “firm” electricity is no longer a single procurement lane, it’s a portfolio decision spanning on-site generation, grid programs, and controllable load.

  • 01The operational question behind the NuScale-Nucor MOU is not “nuclear vs renewables,” it’s whether a mill can secure 24/7 power with a permitting and interconnection path that matches expansion timelines (POWER Magazine).
  • 02A useful benchmark for C&I energy planning: Massachusetts average commercial electricity rates rose from roughly 13.0 cents/kWh in 2014 to 20.9 cents/kWh in 2024, well above the 2024 national commercial average of about 13.9 cents/kWh (pv magazine USA, citing EIA data).
  • 03Managed EV charging and V2X are shifting from pilots to policy and tariff design work, which means facilities with fleet electrification can treat charging as a dispatchable asset only if their utility and program rules allow it (Renewable Energy World).

Sep 2, 2026

Explore More Energy Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Energy.

Browse Energy Hub

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Energy and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512