Small Wonder: 11 YO Chinese ‘rocket boy’ learns programming, physics, chemistry to make rocket

In China, an 11-year-old boy named Yan Hongsen has captured the attention of the nation with his remarkable self-taught skills in programming, physics, and chemistry, which he applied to build a rocket. Known as “rocket boy,”

Yan is a Primary Five student from Zhejiang province, located in eastern China. His journey into the world of rocketry and his impressive accomplishments have turned him into an online sensation, amassing 440,000 followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Yan’s fascination with rockets began at the tender age of four when he visited a launch centre and witnessed the liftoff of the Long March-2 rocket. This experience ignited a passion for rockets and astronomy that has only grown over the years.

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His father, speaking to the South China Morning Post, recounted how this early exposure to space exploration spurred Yan’s interest and set him on a path of self-directed learning.

From his kindergarten years, Yan began taking online programming courses and delved into the study of physics and chemistry through various resources, including books, videos, and online forums frequented by astronomy enthusiasts. Recognizing his profound interest in aerospace, Yan’s parents converted their living room into a makeshift rocket research studio to support his budding ambitions.

In August 2022, Yan embarked on an ambitious project to build his first homemade solid-fuel rocket. This endeavour took him 10 months. By June of the following year, he was ready to launch his creation, which he named Sen Xing. The name, meaning “moving forward,” symbolizes Yan’s aspirations to achieve greater heights in the field of aerospace.

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The launch of Sen Xing, however, did not go as planned. While the rocket initially ascended successfully, its booster failed to deploy the parachute after separation, leading to a crash. Despite the setback, Yan’s reaction was one of calm determination.

He meticulously gathered the scattered debris and began analyzing the failure. He identified several issues, including the failure of the nitrocellulose to explode as expected and damage to the spring and lithium battery, indicating possible problems with the rocket’s body connection.

Yan’s father viewed the maiden flight as a success, despite the crash. He expressed immense pride in his son’s efforts and remained supportive, even as Yan began modifying a second version of the rocket for future launch attempts. Yan’s father, who works in the tourism industry, has been a constant pillar of support, often seeking expert advice to help his son overcome technical challenges.

In his latest video, Yan showcased over 600 lines of code he wrote for the flight control system of his next rocket. His coding skills and relentless pursuit of his goals have further impressed his growing audience. Yan aspires to attend one of China’s seven prestigious civilian defense universities and dreams of building a real rocket for China to explore the universe.

Yan’s story has resonated deeply with the Chinese public, drawing widespread admiration on social media platforms. On Weibo, many praised his determination and ingenuity, with comments highlighting his achievements and the unwavering support of his parents.

This isn’t the first time Yan has garnered national attention. In July 2022, at just nine years old, he gained recognition for identifying factual errors in an astronomy documentary. By that time, he was already teaching aerospace classes to his peers at primary school, showcasing his deep understanding of the subject matter.

Yan’s academic performance is equally impressive. His father noted that despite his extensive extracurricular activities, Yan ranks among the top students in his class across all subjects. This balance of academic excellence and pursuit of personal interests underscores Yan’s exceptional abilities and dedication.