Spaceport America Cup: Triton Rocket

My team started the design process using programs such as RASAero, OpenRocket, Solidworks, MATLAB, and Ansys Fluent to design the rocket and simulate the launch to ensure that our design would be able to successfully withstand the forces it could experience during flight. 

I was responsible for leading the team in the manufacturing of the rocket, using composite layups, 3D printing, and waterjet and laser cutting to manufacture all of the components prior to assembly. One of the most crucial components of our work was the design and structure of the fins. We used MATLAB to run fin flutter simulations to determine the optimal shape for the fins and the number of layers of carbon fiber needed to lay up over top of it to prevent the fin from shearing off of the rocket.

We conducted a successful test launch of the rocket in March 2024, achieving a max altitude of 24,000 ft, and a max speed of Mach 1.5. The rocket was recovered with no damage. Between March and June, I lead the team in fine tuning, finishing and painting the rocket to prepare for competition.

At Spaceport America Cup 2024, the Triton reached a max altitude  of 26,198 ft (Club Record), a max speed of Mach 1.8 (Club Record), and completed a perfect recovery with no damage. 

If you're interested in learning more about the project, below is the link to our final technical report.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ecbje5og4dEv5EKLChCuF4QUB18SyHkG/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106732469082876478794&rtpof=true&sd=true