
Aerospace Research Develops Revolutionary Working Model for Rocket Engines
“The rotating detonation engine field is still in its infancy. We have tons of data about these engines, but we don’t understand what is going on.” Research refining this idea remains ongoing, aiding to increase our confidence in the future of this alternative engine set for space. Doctoral student James Koch, of the University of Washington’s aerospace and aeronautics program, explains his research testing the model that is making fuel-efficient space travel possible. Of his process, he explains that his results came by looking at pattern formations instead of asking an engineering question — such as how to get the highest performing engine, “and then boom, it turned out that it works.”
