CU SRL is currently working on several different projects involving advanced control systems, high-temperature composite materials, hypersonic vehicle simulation and development, and more. Read more about each of our projects below! If you are interested in any of these projects, please reach out to its listed point of contact!
Spaceshot
Spaceshot is an challenge between universities to be the first to reach the edge of space - the Karman line, at 62 miles altitude - with a student-built rocket. To the end of achieving successful spaceflight, CU SRL is actively developing the most advanced & robust propulsion systems, airframes, and avionics of any student rocketry team in the world.
The goal of Spaceshot is not only to show that a student-led team can reach the edge of space, but to inspire future students and future generations to reach for the stars.
Seeking engineers with an interest in or experience with: Hypersonics, avionics, technical documentation.
Point of Contact: Anna Christiansen (annachristiansen8@gmail.com)
Active Control Vehicle
In pursuit of developing a two-stage high-altitude sounding rocket, SRL is developing systems for an aerodynamically-controlled pathfinder vehicle and a cold-gas thruster system. During the boost burn, aerodynamic control surfaces will automatically control the vehicle's attitude. After booster separation, the cold gas thruster would keep the sustainer stage upright during the coast phase, minimizing pitch-over due to gravity. This technology will require research into high-altitude pressure environments as well as advanced control laws. Cold gas stabilization will allow our vehicles to reach their intended apogee with significantly less uncertainty. In order to complete a two-stage sounding rocket, SRL needs to refine a design for a staging mechanism. To do this, we will be constructing several pathfinder vehicles to test staging systems. This project will require precision hardware and advanced avionics. This technology will allow us to reliably reach space when coupled with our aerodynamic control and cold gas thruster technologies.
Seeking engineers with an interest in or experience with: Control laws, aerodynamics, avionics, dynamics, pressure-fed systems, machining, servos and robotics.
Point of Contact: Nicholas Boender (Nicholas.Boender@Colorado.Edu)
Avionics and Flight Software
CU SRL has developed its own custom flight computer and avionics package for use on all future vehicles. Currently undergoing manufacturing and component testing, the custom package features common telemetry sensors such as accellerometers and barometers as well as an FPGA. This package will allow us to record high-fidelity flight data and downlink live to our ground stations. A render of our flight computer is shown below. SRL is also developing the ability to downlink telemetry live from our vehicles.
Seeking engineers with an interest in or experience with: Avionics and electronics, FPGAs, telecommunications, command and data handling.
Point of Contact: Lyon Foster (Lyon.Foster@Colorado.Edu)
Composite Motor Development
In order to minimize weight for our vehicles, SRL has developed revolutionary technology in the field of solid rocket motors. Last spring we became the first ever university group to successfully fabricate and test-fire a fully-composite solid rocket motor. Utilizing advanced materials used by NASA for re-entry heat shields, we are able to rein in the extreme temperatures and pressures seen inside the combustion chamber of a solid rocket motor, which are normally far too intense for composite materials. We are currently working on further development in our manufacturing techniques so we can build larger motors in the future.
Seeking engineers with an interest in or experience with: Thermodynamics, material sciences, composite manufacturing.
Point of Contact: Zach Lesan (zale3176@colorado.edu), Cameron Humphreys (Cameron.Humphreys@Colorado.Edu)
Propellant Development
CU SRL flies most vehicles on our custom propellant mixture, developed and previously manufactured in-house. With a specific impulse of 214 seconds, our fuel is top of the line as solid rockets go. We are currently building out our capacity to manufacture propellant off-site, while maintaining strict standards for safety and quality.
Seeking engineers with an interest in or experience with: Chemistry, industrial safety practices.
Point of Contact: Patrick Riley (pari5921@colorado.edu), Jordan Gage (joga0413@colorado.edu)
Below: Student participate in a propellant mix at our off-site location.
Below: Propellant mixed using sugar as an inert oxidizer stand-in. This mix was done to train new members of the mixing team under reduced-risk circumstances.
Sponsors
CU SRL is sponsored by the Center of Student Involvement and the following organizations:
