Chinese researchers have developed an innovative type of rocket engine that could be used to build advanced stealth missiles. No such missiles have been built or tested to date. (Image credit: Anton Petrus via Getty Images)
Chinese scientists say they have made significant progress in rocket engine technology that could potentially allow them to develop a new generation of stealthy missiles that can change speed mid-flight and avoid detection by early warning systems.
The technology has not yet been tested. Instead, the new data was generated using computer models, according to a report in Interesting Engineering.
The reported achievement is believed to have been inspired by problems with Boeing's spacecraft that left two NASA astronauts “stranded” on the International Space Station (ISS) last year, the South China Morning Post reports. “In an ironic twist, researchers in China have turned a long-standing NASA problem into a revolutionary propulsion breakthrough that could change the way modern warfare and space exploration are approached,” the publication notes.
In June 2024, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams found themselves trapped on the ISS after the Boeing Starliner capsule they arrived on experienced multiple problems and was returned to Earth without its passengers. That turned what was supposed to be a weeklong space trip into an ongoing 10-month mission that is expected to end in mid-March, when the pair of astronauts are scheduled to return home.
The key problem with the Starliner capsule was that it was leaking helium (in several places), which is used to pressurize liquid rockets by injecting liquid fuel into the combustion chamber. This means it has to be stored separately and forced through valves when needed, making it prone to leaks. The problem has also previously plagued other spacecraft, including India's Chandrayaan-2 and the European Space Agency's Ariane 5, Reuters reports.
Boeing's Starliner capsule experienced multiple helium leaks after transporting NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS.
In a study published Feb. 10 in the Chinese journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, researchers report developing a rocket that directly mixes helium with the engine's fuel by injecting it into the chamber through microscopic pores. This similarly increases the fuel's pressure and allows for a more efficient reaction while reducing the likelihood of leaks.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
