Highlights
- Zhang Shijie, an 18-year-old Chinese Teen, built rockets using cheap materials.
- Learned rocket science from short video platforms like Douyin.
- Conducted over 100 experiments, finally reaching 400 metres.
- Accepted into Shenyang Aerospace University for aerospace engineering.
- School and family provided strong support for his dream.
A Teenager’s Passion for Rockets
A Chinese teenager, Zhang Shijie, from a village in Hunan province, has amazed many by launching a rocket that soared 400 metres high. What makes his story special is that he is self-taught, using inexpensive materials and online videos to learn rocket science.
His passion for rockets began when he was 14 years old, after watching a rocket launch on live television with his father. Recently, his dream took a big step forward when he was admitted into the aerospace engineering programme at Shenyang Aerospace University, one of China’s top aerospace institutions.
Learning from Online Videos
Without any prior knowledge, Zhang turned to short video platforms to learn about rockets. On Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, he watched countless DIY rocket videos. By late 2023, the platform hosted over 4.7 million science experiment videos, including a huge rise in water-powered rocket content.
His teacher, Long Yanjiao, said the internet played a vital role in shaping Zhang’s skills, as his village school had limited resources.
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Experiments with Homemade Rocket Fuel
In the beginning, Chinese Teen tried making fuel using nitrate from his family’s pigsty mixed with sugar and water. However, it turned out to be impure. Using knowledge from his school, he filtered the materials and developed purer fuel from fertilisers.
He also experimented with PVC tubes and cement for rocket engines, though they failed. Later, he taught himself 3D modelling software and bought a second-hand 3D printer using saved money and loans from classmates to create real rocket parts.
First Launch and Success After 100 Attempts
On his birthday in June 2023, Zhang invited his father and classmates to watch his rocket launch. Rain ruined the first test, but the very next day he succeeded.
After more than 100 experiments, he developed four types of engines, several single-stage rockets, and even a two-stage rocket, which finally reached 400 metres in altitude.
School and Community Support
Zhang’s school strongly supported him, offering 3,500 yuan (US$500) in funding, recruiting fellow students, and giving him an office space originally designed for calligraphy.
Zhang described the office as his “spiritual home.” He even sold some of his creations to institutions to earn money and repay his classmates’ loans.
His teacher Long, who has been teaching for 30 years, said:
“Hobby is a person’s best teacher.”
A Supportive Family
Zhang’s father works as a ride-sharing driver in Changsha, while his mother is a nanny in another city. Despite their modest income, they always supported his passion. His father said Zhang was different from other kids, as he was more interested in taking toys apart than playing video games.
Future Dreams
Now a university student, Zhang has one clear goal, to design a real rocket.
Online observers praised his achievement. One noted that village children often struggle to pursue science due to poor resources, while another beautifully said:
“The seed we grow when we are young can grow into a big tree, if it is well looked after.”
Source: South Bangla Morning Post
