I've never seen a rocket engine and thought, "well, that's uninteresting". However, this design surpasses all others by a significant margin. That's because instead of the usual process involving numerous engineers spending months, or even years, manually engineering a model using programs like CAD, this design was completed in just two weeks, largely thanks to AI. Dubai-based AI engineering company, Leap 71, claims that their Large Computational Engineering Model, Noyron, autonomously created this design "without human intervention". The model was then 3D-printed in copper by German metal 3D-printing company AMCM. The post-processing was carried out at the University of Sheffield, followed by a successful test firing. According to Leap 71, each new version of the engine generated by the AI model takes only minutes, in comparison to the months it would usually take to develop a traditional rocket engine design. This engine makes use of cryogenic liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene as propellants. The injector head features a state-of-the-art coaxial swirler to effectively mix the propellants. It's the kind of description that Wallace, of Wallace and Gromit fame, would use to describe his latest rocket design. A "coaxial swirler". What a time to be alive. The engine is designed to provide 5 kN of thrust, equivalent to lifting 500 kg (1120 lbs) or generating 20, 000 horsepower. Leap 71 states that it would be suitable for the final "kick stage" of an orbital rocket. The test firing took place at Airborne Engineering's facilities in Wescott, UK. If you enjoy watching rockets launch for amusement, then I have just the video for you: Exciting stuff, isn't it?Using copper as the material for a rocket engine might seem odd due to its low melting point, but apparently, it enables the development of "compact high-performance engines" when actively cooled. The exact reasons remain somewhat unclear to my less knowledgeable mind. Nevertheless, knowledge is power. However, there is a notable warning.

Leap 71 cautions that if the cooling fails, the engine will melt immediately. Similar to my AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, I jest, of course. The peculiar pattern design allows for thin cooling channels that wrap around the chamber jacket. Additional kerosene is pumped into these channels to maintain a relatively cool temperature, at least in rocket science terms. Moreover, the swirling, fractal-like pattern has a distinctive AI-generated look. As you can see, the test fire was a success. The engine underwent a full 12-second long-duration burn. This provides enough evidence for Leap 71 to confidently declare its steady-state capability, meaning it can operate consistently for as long as required, serving as a powerful booster. Nonetheless, it is not without its flaws. Analysis conducted on the engine post-test revealed that the resistance of the cooling channels was higher than anticipated. This phenomenon is attributed to the surface roughness of the 3D print. Therefore, further optimization of the design is required before it can potentially push the boundaries of our planet. That brings us to the ultimate goal. According to Josefine Lissner, the Managing Director of Leap 71, "We can now automatically create functional rocket thrusters and proceed directly to practical validation. " "Innovation in space propulsion is challenging and expensive. With our approach, we hope to make space more accessible to everyone. " And there we have it. An aesthetically intriguing, functional design that is much quicker to implement than traditional approaches. Perhaps AI generation holds the key to future rocket engine advancements. Now, I have a craving for some Wensleydale cheese. More cheese, Gromit?