"Self-Eating Rockets: A Solution for Efficient Space Travel and Space Junk Reduction"

A team at the University of Glasgow has developed a self-eating rocket engine, named Ouroborous-3, which consumes part of its own body for fuel, reducing weight and providing greater thrust for larger payloads. The engine uses a mix of gaseous oxygen and liquid propane, with the plastic fuselage melting and feeding into the chamber as supplementary fuel. This innovative design offers potential for increased fuel efficiency, reduced space debris, and controllability, marking a significant advancement in rocket technology.