IAP Lecture Series Announced

• How the rocket team's new kerosene/LOX engine works
• Basics of flight vehicle design
• An update on rocket engine projects at our sponsors at Pratt & Whittney.

For more information and schedule updates, see the edgerton center's IAP listings at http://web.mit.edu/edgerton/

Patent Issued

Fall 2001 Status

 The MIT Rocket Team is spending this fall semester working on a number of projects, all dedicated to the team's goal of launching a sub-orbital rocket to space. These projects include engine component redesign, payload design and testing, and rebuilding some test stand components.

 The engine component redesign involves changes to two critical components in the engine. Team members discovered a poor design trait in the components after the summer engine failure. Finite element modelling is being used to study the old and new designs in order to gain a better understanding of these critical components. Once the design is finalized, the needed components will be sent out to be machined. Some of the components from the engine tested last summer are still usable, and will be used in the next set of tests. Once all components are in place, the new engine will be assembled, and in-lab testing will begin. The current goal is to resume hot-fire testing at our New Hampshire facilities in March or April of 2002.

 The engine test stand has evolved over time, becoming more complex while also getting more organized. The current rebuild includes the electronics board, in order to further organize the wiring, add capability for future additions, and split off the power components to a separate board.

 Finally, rather than simply launch a dead-weight payload in the team rocket, team members want to take the opportunity of having our own rocket to launch a unique payload. Discussions about possible payloads resulted in the current proposal: to launch a series of video cameras on the rocket in order to create a full-surround, "virtual reality" movie of the launch. Multiple video streams will be beamed down to Earth, and reconstructed into a single video which would allow the viewer to look around in all directions and experience the rocket's trip to space. To help support payload development, some team members are becoming certified to launch high-power model rockets. These members are developing test rockets to gain flight experience and to test payloads and staging mechanisms.