Chinese innovation in rocket design boosts missile stealth
A research team from China has disclosed a new method of injecting helium into rocket engines, potentially usable in modern missiles. They claim these missiles would be significantly harder to detect or intercept. This discovery stems from an investigation into the Starliner spacecraft's failure.
Chinese scientists have announced the development of a new rocket engine which could enhance stealth capabilities in advanced missiles. Their research is detailed in the scientific journal "Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica". Here, they describe substantial advances in rocket propulsion, opening possibilities for a new generation of missiles capable of adjusting speed mid-flight and evading early warning system detection.
Currently, this technology remains theoretical. There is no confirmation of working prototypes, and the technology has not yet undergone testing. The findings, as reported by Interesting Engineering, are solely based on computer models and have not been practically tested.
The inspiration was the Starliner space malfunction
Intriguingly, this new technology was reportedly inspired by an incident in Earth's orbit last year. According to the South China Morning Post, malfunctions in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft led to this discovery. In June 2024, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were confined to the ISS following the Boeing Starliner capsule's repeated failures. This incident, which was initially meant to be a week-long mission, extended to a ten-month stay, with its completion anticipated by mid-March, when the astronauts are scheduled to return.
The primary issue with the Starliner was helium system leaks, essential for pressure maintenance in liquid-fuel rockets. Helium introduces fuel into the reaction chamber and must be separately stored and timely transferred through valves, making the system prone to leaks. Similar problems have previously affected other spacecraft, including India's Chandrayaan-2 and Europe's Ariane 5 rocket.
Innovative method of utilising helium
The research describes a new rocket engine design featuring helium directly mixed with fuel in the combustion chamber via microscopic pores. This method maintains pressure within the fuel and enhances efficiency while minimising leakage risk. Unlike the Starliner, this design allows for the use of both solid and gaseous fuel instead of liquid, resulting in a more cost-effective and reliable system.
According to the scientists, an optimal helium-to-fuel ratio could generate thrice the thrust compared to using fuel alone. Additionally, remote regulation of helium delivery could enable mid-flight speed adjustments in missiles, complicating tracking and interception.
The new engine would also generate less heat, with researchers estimating it could have an exhaust plume approximately 1,600°C cooler than conventional rockets. If implemented in missiles, such weapons could become nearly invisible to modern early warning systems, like SpaceX's Starshield satellites, which detect missiles via their thermal signature, as per Interesting Engineering.
The technology has been enhanced
This is not the first publication covering this technology. In September 2024, the same research team published an article in the American journal "Physics of Fluids," exploring the theoretical potential of the new engine. This implies that the concept might have existed prior to the Starliner failure, considering the duration required to publish scientific work.
The earlier research predominantly focused on amplifying thrust through helium injection. The latest article, however, concentrates on potential applications in stealth missiles and their capabilities of evading detection and defence systems.
This technology could also have non-military applications. Solid-fuel rockets are more economical than their liquid-fuel counterparts, potentially lowering spaceflight costs significantly, amidst a rising number of space missions globally.
