Project Team Overview
President: Fall 2021 - Present // Propulsion Lead: Fall 2020 - Fall 2021 // Team Member: Fall 2019 - Fall 2020
Contributions
2021-Present: New like-doublets injector design, new engine development and analysis
2021-Present (administrative): Team restructuring, team lab space redesign, new sponsors
2020-2021: Exploratory design of a liquid kit engine, CFDs, heat transfer analysis
2019-2020: Low-pressure plumbing design on Valkyrie v1, actuated valve design
Caltech’s rocketry team (PARSEC) is currently developing three rockets. Our main project currently is a Kerosene/LOx engine made of aluminum intended to be traditionally manufactured. We hope to finish manufacturing by the end of October and begin cold flow testing by the second week of November. Our team is also currently developing supporting test equipment including a hydrostatic test stand, a hydroflow test setup, and a hotfire test trailer. We also have a long-term project developing a Methane/LOx rocket for the FAR/MARS competition and an underclassmen project launching a solids rocket for L2 certification.
Harold
Main Project: Kerosene/LOx Engine (HAROLD)
Project Duration: Spring 2022 - Present
Key Metrics
Thrust: 300 lbf
Chamber Pressure: 250 psi
Target Elevation: 10,000 ft
Cooling: Regenerative+Film
Injector Style: Like-doublets
Valkyrie, a 3D printed LOx/Methane rocket to compete in the FAR/MARS Competition, is our team’s longest lasting project. First envisioned in 2016, the project faced significant setbacks during the pandemic. The original version of Valkyrie underperformed we believe due to tolerance/surface roughness issues with our 3D printing process.
Valkyrie v2 is currently in the trade-space/conceptual phase as our team continues to do analysis on the failures of Valkyrie v1. Since most of Valkyrie v1’s development predates our current members, we are designing Valkyrie v2 from the bottom up focused on wider lessons-learned. Primary design changes that are being undergone include switching away from helical regenerative channels and improving machining techniques on the pintle injector.
Long-Term Project: Liquid Methane/LOx Engine (Valkyrie v2)
Project Duration: Summer 2022 - Present
Key Metrics
Thrust: 800 lbf
Chamber Pressure: 500 psi
Target Elevation: 45,000 ft
Cooling: Regenerative
Injector Style: Pintle
