June 18, 2022
The rocket engine development group ROTODET performed two tests of their proof of concept RDE using gaseous oxygen and methane. The tests were a promising first step for the team, and now they can focus on gathering more data to characterize their performance.
The plume profile and sustained burn were as expected, and the tests themselves were achieved with a lean $5000 budget and all transported in a single personal vehicle. I am especially proud of the propulsion engineer Abel Rodriguez, who I helped train at the start of his rocketry career. He was able to meet their budgetary constraints with robust yet simple components, which aligns with our shared design philosophy.
I cannot say much else about the true performance of the engine, as the RDE is not as straightforward to analyze visually. Future tests with more instrumentation are planned, and I look forward to seeing what else we can learn in the future.
