The Solid Propulsion subteam provides the systems necessary to accelerate the rocket. MIT Rocket Team currently manufactures almost all of the components of our solid motors in-house and tests every motor at a local airfield.
When handling solid propellants and other high flammables, there are many regulations that must be followed. Custom propellants can only be flown at Tripoli affiliated clubs or independent launch events and someone must be present that holds the appropriate NAR certification. Furthermore in the United States, ITAR regulations must be followed when mixing custom propellants. Please make sure you follow all appropriate regulations and maintain safe practices. Propellant is dangerous.
Getting Started
For those joining the propulsion subteam, welcome! Below are article versions of the presentations
from our initial meetings so you can reference the material at any time:
(Link to parent page here)
Lecture 1: Theory and Basis of Solid Rocket Propulsion
Lecture 2: Propellant Formulation
Lecture 3: Propellant Production
Lecture 4: Internal Ballistics
Lecture 5: Hardware Design of Cases and Bolts
Lecture 6: Hardware Design of Nozzles & Closures
Current Project
Solid Prop has finished the development of the Phoenix Flight Motors and are currently preparing for our January 2023 launch at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry. In Spring 2023, the team will begin developing and characterizing a new propellant for our next rocket, Medusa.
More information about the contributions of the solid propulsion team on Pheonix can be found here.
Combustion Chronicles
The Prop Bible (Prible)
A collection of vast knowledge accumulated by propulsion over the years:
- Solid Rocket Motors
- Motor Parts
- Forward Retention Ring
- Head-End Ignition
- Forward Closure
- Motor Cases
- Motor Liner
- Nozzle
- O-Rings
- Motor Parts
- Combustion of Solid Propellant
- Solid Rocket Propellant Precursors
- Propellants
- Mixing Procedures
- Safety
- Regulations
- Solid Rocket Motors
History
Year | Lead |
|---|---|
| Fall 2014 - Summer 2015 | Matt V. |
| Fall 2015 - Summer 2017 | Zach B. |
| Fall 2017 - Summer 2018 | Sam A. |
| Fall 2018 - Summer 2019 | Ethan S. |
Fall 2019 | Vittorio C. |
| Fall 2019 | Charlie G. |
| Spring 2020 - Summer 2020 | Julia G. |
| Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 | David v.W. |
| Summer 2021 - Spring 2022 | Justin S. |
| Summer 2022 - Fall 2022 | Jorian B. |
Spring 2023 | Elizabeth Z. |
| Summer 2023 - Fall 2023 | Alex Meier |
| Summer 2023 - Present | Abraheim A. |
| Spring 2024 | Derek C. |
The development of our in-house propulsion started in the fall of 2015 with an extensive review of local, federal, and University regulations on making rocket motors. Over the summer of 2016 several students conducted research on Project Firefly. Project Firefly graciously allowed us to develop our fuel in tandem with their research. We gained access to their test facilities in exchange for access to our mixing facilities and storage depots. This first propellant formulation was called Xaphan Blue.
Starting in the fall of 2017 as part of Project Hermes, the propulsion team developed a new series of propellant formulations including Ocean Water, Cherry Limeade, and Kickstart. These propellants have each been built off of the knowledge the team gained from their precursors and have been our steps towards high performance, low cost, a pourable solid propellant for use in 4-6" diameter motors in the 10-100 kilonewton-second range.
In February 2020 the staging demonstrator proved to be successful, and Project Pheonix was born! A two-stage Rocket with in-flight ignition that will let us prepare for a space shot. Propulsion's current mission is to develop the motors for the Medusa Booster & Sustainer, utilizing our newest propellant, Angry Goat, designed from the lessons learned in making Cherry Limeade and Kickstart.
Propellant Formulas
| Name | Description | Used | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xaphan Blue | The team's first propellant. | Spring 2017 | Static Fired |
| Ocean Water | Developed during the Fall 2017 semester to replace XB. Focused on performance rather than appearance. | Fall 2017 - Summer 2018 | Characterized, Static Fired, Flown |
| Cherry Limeade | Designed by applying the knowledge we gained from OW. It is a slower burning, a higher-performing propellant that is as pourable as OW. | Fall 2018 - Fall 2019 | Characterized, Static Fired, Flown. |
| Kickstart | Minor modifications to CL that we hope will make it more appropriate for the production of large-scale monolithic motors. | Spring 2019 - Fall 2019 | Characterized, Static Fired. |
| Angry Goat | Additional modifications to increase pourability and decrease burn rate, while still maintaining high ISP and reduced slag with a higher Al content | Fall 2022 - Present | Characterized, Static Fired, Flown. |