Transcript Technical Poster

Project M.E.T.E.O.R.
Flying Rocket Team
P07109
From Left: Luke Cadin (ME), Dave Hall (ME), Geoff Cassell
(ME), Brian Whitbeck (ME), Zack Mott (ME), Andrew
Scarlata - Team Leader (ME), Garett Pickett (EE)
Introduction: Project METEOR (Microsystems Engineering and Technology for the Exploration of Outer Space
Regions) is a hands-on, multi-phase, multi-disciplinary, teaching, and research program for investigating and
developing micro-systems technologies for the exploration and utilization of outer space. The short term goal of
this project is to put small payloads into low Earth orbits. The long term goal is to land the payloads on near
Earth asteroids and lunar surfaces. The project is currently in its construction phase. The main objective of the
Flying Rocket team is to construct and ground test a flight ready rocket stage.
Top Shell
The top shell is made of aluminum, and
houses the pressure vessel while providing a
concentric surface for guidance system
integration.
Pressure Vessel
The composite overwound pressure vessel
holds the nitrous oxide (N2O). It is rated to
3295 psi.
Middle Shell
The middle shell is made of aluminum and
houses the NODS. It is fastened to the top
shell by a custom machined aluminum
bracket, and is fastened to the bottom shell
through the injector plate.
Injector Plate
The injector plate is
machined out of Grade 2
Titanium for its
weldability to the bottom
shell. It contains a
pattern of 9 injector
holes which flash the
N2O into a vapor.
Nitrous Oxide Delivery System (NODS)
The nitrous oxide fuel delivery system is the internal
plumbing system that controls the flow of the liquid
fuel oxidizer from the pressure vessel to the rocket
engine. The flow is controlled with a series of check
valves, a servo-actuated high-pressure ball valve and
a quick-disconnect mechanism.
Bottom Shell
The bottom shell is made of grade 5 titanium
and houses the combustion assembly. It is
welded to the injector plate. Grade 5 titanium
shows high strength at elevated temperatures
and is lighter than steel.
Ignition System
The Igniter uses a PWM
signal from a microcontroller and filters it
through a low pass filter.
It then ramps up current
through the ignitor as a
function of the PWM
duty cycle using
Darlington configured
transistors.
Combustion Assembly
Insulation
Nozzle
Post-Combustion
Pre-Combustion
Chamber
Chamber
Fuel Grain
Injector
Plate
Special thanks to our advisors, Dorin Patru & Jeffrey Kozak,
Dave Hathaway and the rest of the machine shop staff, and all
others in the RIT community that supported project METEOR.