Tritium, once discarded as a by-product of Canadian nuclear reactors, is now one of the most expensive materials on Earth. This rare isotope of hydrogen powers glow-in-the-dark keychains, exit signs that can stay bright for two decades without power and cutting-edge fusion energy research.
I made some research on tritium and how it was formed in nature. This research caught my attention, “Production and Transport of Cosmogenic Tritium in the Earth’s Atmosphere in the PARMA Model”. Tritium concentration by altitude looked similar to ozone concentration and minimum wind speeds. The peaks were different but there was some correlation. Then, I thought if the surveillance airship design, I had proposed, can be modified to harvest tritium at altitudes 20km.
Tritium is produced naturally in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays strike nitrogen molecules in the air. During day time tritium concentration increases at altitudes depicted on the graph. Therefore, a solar powered airship can harvest tritium during daytime. It’s an idea that can be studied further.
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