Ellestriite
Ellestriite has seen the beginning of the spacefaring age for countless civilisations across the Milky Way. This metal, when turned into a powder, produces incredible amounts on energy used to propel spacecrafts.
This material is renowned for its long-lasting nature, and is one of the most commonly used fuel sources in this galaxy. A canister of ellestriite fuel can take a personal spacecraft from one side of the Milky Way to the other, with the use of warp gates.
Extraction
Oxide Ores
Oxide ores are mineral rocks found close to the surface. Metals in these ores are combined with oxygen to form these oxides. The most common ore to find ellestriite is lematite, one of the most common oxide ores on any planet.Ellestriite can be found naturally underground on most planets, in ores alongside many other metals. Ellestriite is found scarcely in oxide ores, close to the surface. Open-pit mining is the most common method of extracting these ores.
Leaching is the most common method of extracting ellestriite. Leaching is the process of treating ores with chemicals into soluble materials, leaving the desired mineral intact. Exonide is ineffective against ellestriite, but can dissolve any other metal.
This ellestriite is then cleaned and processed into a soft, fine powder. Manufacturing companies pack this powder into containers, typically no more than two feet in length and twenty centimetres in diameter.
Spacecraft Fuel
Ellestriite is a very effective fuel source for spacecrafts thanks to its high density and is highly efficient. The powdered form of this metal is highly reactive. Oxygen is in short supply in space, so oxygen containers are carried alongside fuel. Ellestriite powder and oxygen is mixed in a combustion chamber, creating exhaust, propelling the vehicle through space. The metal's common name comes from Eli Lestrii, a renowned explorer who first utilised this metal as fuel.
Ellestriite fuel is common around the Greater Oasis. 95% of personal spacecrafts use ellestriite fuel as it is readily available at every single fuel station along the Galactic Highway.
The name makes it sound like starstuff. Like someone was like "where did this come from? I dunno, the stars? It's starstuff!"
Haly, the Moonlight Bard
Rhapsody by Moonlight , a daily email worldbuilding newsletter.
I wanted to give it a sparkly little name, glad it works! :D