Image

Students Test-Fire Rocket Engine Component They Built for NASA

Aug. 27, 2014
Engineering students at Purdue University recently test fired a thrust chamber they designed and built as part of NASA’s Project Morpheus.
A “hot fire” test of a rocket engine that burns liquid oxygen and methane in a thrust chamber built by team of Purdue students took place in that university’s Zucrow Laboratories.

Engineering students at Purdue University recently test fired a thrust chamber they designed and built as part of NASA’s Project Morpheus. The goal of the project is to develop a spacecraft that can autonomously take off and land vertically. (To see a video of a prototype of the spacecraft, click here.) Students have been working on the chamber since 2010 when it began as a senior design project.

The final engine will need to be lightweight if it is to be used on moon and Mars landings. So the students gave the thrust chamber (or combustor) relatively thin walls. But this means the chamber walls will have to be well cooled to prevent them from melting as temperatures inside reach 5,000°F for up to 2 min as the engine fires. When completed, the engine will generate 1,300 to 4,200 lb of thrust. Tests done on the chamber are to determine cooling needs.

The student team also developed a subsystem that liquefies the methane fuel. This lowers the cost and difficulty of transporting and using methane gas.

Sponsored Recommendations

Aug. 22, 2025
Discover how to meet growing customer demands for custom products without overextending your engineering team. Learn how scaling your automation strategy can help you win more...
Aug. 22, 2025
Join industry leaders to explore how cutting edge digital technologies are transforming factories. Learn how to boost throughput, enhance flexibility, and accelerate your digital...
Aug. 22, 2025
Explore the future of manufacturing. Learn how to leverage the latest digital technologies and strategies to build a more efficient, agile, and resilient digital factory.
Aug. 21, 2025
A look into the latest improvements in motion control through high-performance drives, AI enhancements, and faster communication protocols.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!