Hybrid Rocket Engine Testing
Problem statement
he Wisconsin Space Program’s Spaceport America (known as IREC) team is interested in stepping into a new frontier by transitioning from solid fuel rocket engines bought off the shelf to student designed hybrid rocket engines, which hold the promise of a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solution for launches [1]. The team has previously attempted to participate in IREC with a hybrid rocket engine, but the competition requires a successful engine test before applying with a hybrid in mind. The Wisconsin Rocketeers, a previous senior design group, sparked interest in the potential for student designed hybrid engines, but were unsuccessful in testing their design. The IREC team has previously been disappointed, as this is a field of rocketry they were excited to explore. Our hope is to continue the development of a hybrid rocket engine to allow them to compete in future competitions. There were many hurdles and challenges that the previous team encountered including the bowing of the tank, sourcing fuel, and manufacturing the nozzle; all of which we plan to address and overcome. There has been a lot of research done in the past involving tank design, and machining graphite which will allow us to overcome these challenges. The Wisconsin Space program is putting their faith in us to help them expedite their path to enter competitions, resolving these issues and completing a successful engine test will allow the IREC team to compete in future competitions with hybrid rocket engines and prove the versatility of a Hybrid Rocket Engine. [1] “Hybrid Rockets | Penn State University,” Psu.edu, 2024. https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/hybrid-rockets (accessed Sep. 15, 2024).
Team members
Jackson Cyvas – facilitator
Landon Bilka – communicator
Jacob Hansen – accountant
Benjamin Stroeher – admin
Client
Kyle Adler
Wisconsin Space Program