ALULA: Liquid Engine Rocket

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

ALULA is a bi-propellant liquid rocket engine using LOX and ethanol, developed for integration into a flight-ready vehicle. The project spans ground support equipment, cryogenic feed systems, structural integration, and thermal management, with iterative hotfire testing driving design decisions.

MY CONTRIBUTIONS

• 01

  Designed and built portable, modular ground support structures for liquid engine hotfire operations, using perforated sheet metal, wood framing, and off-the-shelf hardware to enable low-cost iteration and rapid reconfiguration

• 02

  Conceptualized and developed a custom high-pressure LOX exhaust solenoid valve (>450 psi), including mass optimization and CNC-machined components, to reduce cost and improve flow control precision

• 03

  Led design reviews for the custom valve and supported the transition to a servo-actuated ball valve when system complexity exceeded program maturity, prioritizing test readiness over ideal performance

• 04

  Redesigned thruster mounts and LOX/ethanol tank mounts, enabling a carbon-rod load-bearing structure to carry tank mass during transport and airframe integration

• 05

  Supported structural integration and machining planning for tank mounts using 1-inch-thick, 8-inch-diameter 6061 aluminum stock

• 06

  Integrated cryogenic insulation into engine infrastructure using thermal calculations to mitigate heat leak and ensure safe handling

• 07

  Developed and tested quick-disconnect fill systems, resolving reliability issues through extensive iteration on connector orientation, angle, and microcontroller interfacing

RESULTS

• Hit 6,126 ft apogee!

• Enabled repeatable liquid engine hotfire operations through portable ground infrastructure

• Delivered structurally integrated tank and thruster mounting concepts suitable for flight hardware

• Demonstrated pragmatic system decision-making by pivoting from complex custom hardware to robust, testable solutions

• Identified key reliability sensitivities in cryogenic quick-disconnect systems through hands-on testing