The rocket-space industry is always on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and push the boundaries of what’s possible in space exploration.

A recent study by HRL Laboratories and Boeing, published on the preprint server arXiv, explores a new approach that could lead to significant advancements in rocket propulsion by leveraging quantum computing. The focus is on stabilizing a high-energy-density molecule, cyclic ozone, within fullerene cages—a development that could dramatically enhance rocket fuel efficiency.