Rocket Engineering, Design, and Development (REDD)
Rocket Engineering, Design, and Development (REDD)
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Rocket Engineering Design and Development (REDD) is a capstone course for 11th and 12th grade students who have completed the foundational engineering courses as well as the PLTW Aerospace Engineering elective. Students interested in aerospace are given the opportunity to build their knowledge of rocketry and aerospace engineering, skills in creative design and development, and abilities in project management and teamwork.
Students start the course by developing a deeper understanding of rockets, their history, the current state of the technology, and the launch vehicle (rocket) industry through hands-on labs and project-based assessments.
In addition to their engineering skills, students use mathematics extensively to conceptualize rocket science concepts that guide design decisions, develop system components and automation, and analyze testing data during prototype design reviews.
The final, culminating project requires student teams to design, develop, and demonstrate a solution to an original engineering design problem that incorporates rocket technology. Industry professionals are invited for the final design presentation and evaluation.
Course Topics and Units of Study
Course Topics and Units of Study
Evolution of Rocketry
Evolution of Rocketry
Rocket technology development from ancient times to modern day, space exploration with emphasis on international space agencies and their histories, and the emergence of the New Space industry and small satellite market.
Launch Vehicle Design
Launch Vehicle Design
Design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket (HPR) at an NAR sanctioned launch to earn a Junior Level 1 HPR Certification. Aerodynamic stability, design optimization, and centers of gravity and pressure are some of the topics discussed and calculated.
Rocket Motor Design
Rocket Motor Design
Survey of solid, liquid, hybrid, and ion rocket motor technologies in the past, present, and future.
Cast, test fire, and analyze composite solid fuel motors for ballistic, thermal, and structural characteristics.
Flight Data, Avionics, and Telemetry
Flight Data, Avionics, and Telemetry
Design and code flight computers using Arduino components that measure and record acceleration, GPS location, altitude, while transmitting to a base station. This base knowledge is used later during the final project.
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