UK is studying an "autophagous" space rocket: it feeds itself with its own parts

The British government aims to stimulate the development of "autophagous" rockets, which consume parts of themselves to climb into orbit.

The Defense & Security Accelerator (DASA) department of the UK government has promised £90.000 (about 110.000 euros) for the development of the engine of an "autophagous" space rocket built by researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

The technology is perfect for small rockets, such as those that carry satellites into orbit. “Scaling a space rocket reduces the mass of the propellant more than it reduces the mass of all other components, including the tanks that contain the propellant itself.” To say it in a note è Patrick Harkness, from the University of Glasgow.

The concept of autophagy is simple: the space rocket also burns the tanks. This allows us to save excess mass and allows us to miniaturize the vehicle without such a limit anymore.

Patrick Harkness, University of Glasgow.

The first tests? A success

The Glasgow team has already tested a version of the engine that will allow the rocket to burn completely solid propellant. The DASA money will help fund research into the use of a very special hybrid propellant.

A space rocket made of fuel

“The body of a hybrid autophagous rocket will be a solid fuel tube containing a liquid oxidizer,” Harkess said. “The entire assembly will be consumed, from bottom to top, by an engine that will vaporize the fuel line, add the oxidizer and burn the mixture to create thrust. The engine will have consumed the entire rocket body by the time the assembly reaches orbit, and only the payload will remain. It's a much more mass efficient process.”

In summary? The space rocket dissolves as it rises into orbit, and only the cargo remains.

The hybrid engine will be tested next year at Kingston University in London. This new technology could help the UK achieve a goal. To achieve a share of at least 2030% of the growing market for launching small satellites by 10. Two of the biggest players in this sector today are American: Rocket Lab, which provides launches into orbit with its Electron carrier, and SpaceX, which increasingly hosts small payloads as “rideshares” on its flagship Falcon 9.

“We look forward to continuing our work to develop the engine and help the UK find its place in space,” the researchers say. We are waiting to understand if the time is ripe for a "British" space rocket.