Student Team

AQUILO Student Rocket Team

Propulsion Department • 2022 - 2025 • Delft, NL

Disclosure

Knowledge Embargo: I will only disclose non-sensitive information regarding my work at AQUILO.

Action = Reaction

As a part of the propulsion department of the AQUILO Student Rocket Team, I have been involved in the design, manufacturing, and testing of solid rocket motors.

AQUILO is a passionate team dedicated to passing down rocketry knowledge and pushing the limits of student innovation. It became my stepping stone into aerospace engineering and deepened my knowledge of propulsion and component design.

Check out AQUILO VIII.S liftoff!

AQUILO Rocket Team

Machining an endcap component for the AQUILO propulsion system

Everyday Work

Responsible engineer of the HEI Head-End Ignition project. The project allowed me to delve deep into propulsion concepts in rocket engineering. The project advances the team’s capability to ignite dual-stage rocket designs with current motor architecture.

HEI reduces grain ignition time, resulting in a higher overall propulsion ISP (specific impulse).

HEI project

AQUILO VIII.S rocket in flight after launch

From design to flight

I have used my machining skills to produce various components for our rocket motors. From endcaps to nozzles, I have been involved in the manufacturing process of critical parts of our propulsion system. This has given me hands-on experience with various manufacturing techniques and materials used in aerospace engineering.

But things do not stop at propulsion, I have also been involved in manufacturing and advising on other structural components of VIII.S rocket. From body struts to retaining rings, I have enjoyed the process of turning a design into a physical part fulfilling its purpose.

Required Analysis

During my time at AQUILO, I have used various software tools such as Open Motor, RPA, NASA - CEA, and Python to support the development and analysis of our propulsion systems from HEI project to conceptual liquid propulsion calculations.