Articles tagged with Rocket Engines
Engineers at Texas A&M University, NASA, and Purdue University create algorithms for managing spacecraft traffic around Gateway, a lunar spaceport. The system balances fuel efficiency and operational demands to reduce the risk of collisions during space missions.
Lehigh University has joined an international research consortium to advance commercial space research and innovation, with a focus on low-Earth orbit technology and microgravity science applications. The partnership aims to develop foundational technologies for future commercial platforms, including the Starlab space station.
The Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER) is expanding its mission and reach as an official university center. CATER will focus on areas like hypersonics, national security, energy and sustainability, advanced air mobility, and space power and propulsion.
The Aerospace Team Graz took first place at the European Rocketry Challenge in Portugal with its ISPIDA hybrid rocket, scoring 938 out of 1000 points. The team's success was attributed to its strong interdisciplinary collaboration and expertise in rocket design and propulsion systems.
Researchers at Ohio State University are developing a new nuclear thermal propulsion system, called the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR), which could potentially double an engine's efficiency. The CNTR concept aims to improve rocket performance while minimizing risk and enabling faster travel times to distant destinations.
Researchers from Brigham Young University and California State University, Bakersfield collected data on Falcon 9 rocket sonic booms to understand their impact. They found that the magnitude of sonic booms can vary greatly with weather conditions, launch time, vehicle trajectory, and time of year.
A Lehigh University team developed a novel machine learning method to predict abnormal grain growth in materials, enabling the creation of stronger, more reliable materials. The model successfully predicted abnormal grain growth in 86% of cases, with predictions made up to 20% of the material's lifetime.
UTA's expansion of its undergraduate research program has enabled students to present their work at major symposiums, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics conference. The program has strengthened students' commitment to pursuing graduate studies in various fields.
MIT engineers have developed a fully 3D-printed electrospray engine that can be produced rapidly and at a lower cost than traditional thrusters. The device generates stable and uniform flow of propellant, producing as much or more thrust than existing droplet-emitting electrospray engines.
The KAIST research team developed an AI-based technique to accurately predict Hall thruster performance, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with iterative design, fabrication, and testing. The trained neural network ensemble model offers detailed analyses of performance parameters, accounting for key design variables.
The University of Central Florida is establishing itself as a leader in hypersonics and space propulsion research with substantial new funding from the US Department of Defense. The funding will support the construction of a hypersonic testing facility, flight experiments and further advancements of the technology.
Researchers measured noise levels at locations around the launch pad, finding maximum sound levels exceeded predicted values by nearly 20 decibels. The study's findings will help validate and improve existing noise prediction models to protect equipment and surrounding environments.
A University of Central Florida researcher has received NASA funding to further develop a novel rocket engine system that could revolutionize space travel by improving engine efficiency and reducing costs. The project focuses on rotating detonation rocket engines, which use high-energy explosions to produce more energy with less fuel.
Researchers developed a new analytical instrument using an ultrafast laser to measure hydrogen concentration and temperature, advancing greener hydrogen-based fuel studies. The instrument's capabilities will help develop more environmentally friendly propulsion engines.
Researchers estimate a 6-10% chance of casualties from uncontrolled re-entry of abandoned rocket stages within the next decade. The study suggests that governments should mandate safe re-entry guidelines to minimize risks and save lives.
Researchers found rocket exhaust gases can remain high in altitude, producing thermal nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide that can affect the Earth's climate. The team modeled fluid dynamics of rocket exhaust gases to understand the impact on atmospheric pollution.
The University of Central Florida has received a $1.5 million U.S. Department of Defense award to develop high-performance fuels for hypersonic propulsion. The project aims to create new solid fuels that can provide wider flammability limits and longer range while constraining volume.
Researchers found significant periodic flow velocity fluctuations in fuel injector ignite combustion oscillations, leading to high mechanical stress on the combustion chamber. The findings provide a reasonable answer for why these oscillations occur and have significant implications for preventing fatal damage in critical engines.
Researchers have discovered that power source clusters near rocket engine fuel injectors can cause combustion oscillations, leading to structural damage and unsafe operating conditions. The study uses symbolic dynamics and complex networks to understand the feedback processes that give rise to these oscillations.
A University of Illinois student research team successfully designed a hybrid rocket engine that uses paraffin and Nytrox, overcoming previous failures with nitrous oxide. The team's perseverance was aided by collaborations with Purdue University and Zucrow Laboratories.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have studied the combustion velocity of a nontoxic salt-based propellant called FAM-110A. The findings indicate that the propellant has a Goldilocks zone where its burn rate is neither too high nor too low, making it suitable for rocket engine design.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a rotating detonation rocket engine that can sustain continuous Mach 5 explosions, improving rocket-engine efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. This technology has the potential to increase space mission capabilities and reduce emissions.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin are developing a new scientific machine learning method to reduce the time and cost of designing rocket engines. By creating reduced-order models that can run in seconds, rather than minutes or weeks, engineers can test performance in different conditions more quickly and safely. This br...
Researchers at the University of Washington developed a mathematical model that describes how rotating detonation engines work. The model allows engineers to determine whether an engine is stable or unstable and assess its performance. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and lightweight spacecraft.
Researchers have conducted experiments to understand the behavior of a high-performance electric propellant compared to a traditional propellant. The results indicate that the electric solid propellant ablates about two times more than the traditional propellant.
Researchers have developed a new flight strategy to land heavier vehicles on Mars by eliminating parachutes and using larger rocket engines. The approach optimizes the lift vector to minimize propellant usage, enabling vehicles to carry more payload while reducing costs.
HRL Laboratories has received a NASA award to develop additive manufactured ceramic rocket engine components. The company's technique combines polymer additive manufacturing with high-temperature ceramics, enabling new designs, lower costs, and reduced lead time.
A new imaging technique helps demystify the cause of explosive sound waves in rockets, revealing spinning acoustic waves that gain destructive power as they rotate around the combustion chamber. The study provides a clearer understanding of this phenomenon and brings scientists closer to preventing its occurrence.
A new kind of cruise missile engine, called a scramjet, has been tested to achieve Mach 6.5 speeds in simulated hypersonic conditions, outperforming traditional ramjets. The engine is being developed for use in the HyFly joint DARPA/ONR Flight Demo program, aiming to launch missiles at speeds up to Mach 6 and ranges of 600 nautical miles.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) successfully conducted the first ground test of a full-scale, fully integrated hypersonic cruise missile engine using conventional liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The Dual Combustion Ramjet (DCR) engine concept demonstrated robust engine operation at speeds up to Mach 6.5.
Researchers tested new electro-mechanical actuator technology in a hot-fire test series, demonstrating its potential for future spacecraft propulsion systems. The successful test aimed to increase safety and reduce costs for space travel by reducing propellant flow rates and stresses on the actuators.
The Marshall Center's Fastrac engine team has developed a 60,000-pound-thrust engine with reduced costs through innovative design and commercial off-the-shelf parts. The team achieved this feat in under three years, significantly faster than usual for rocket engines.
The US government has awarded a $11.3 million contract to Summa Technology Inc. for the manufacture, operation, and maintenance of Fastrac rocket engines. The company will build three new flight engines for the X-34 technology demonstrator and utilize one existing engine.
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft is preparing for a January 3, 1999, engine burn to rendezvous with asteroid 433 Eros. The spacecraft will increase its speed by 2,100 mph and enter orbit around Eros after catching up with the asteroid in mid-February 2000.