USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory

We are excited to announce the USCRPL 2025 Hi-AL Kiwi and first-ever Emu Characterization Campaigns! This test campaign comprises over fifteen solid propellant motor firings to characterize the new propellant Hi-AL. A select number of these firings will also begin the laboratory’s journey into finocyl grain geometry. Testing will take place in the coming weeks and with the support of the Reaction Research Society at their Mojave Test Area site. USCRPL will use the data collected during these firings to finalize the design of an upcoming full-scale static fire. Hi-AL is a proprietary high aluminum content propellant that USCRPL’s students manufacture at Exquadrum's facilities. With Exquadrum’s infrastructural support, Hi-AL has been in development for the better part of a decade and marks the most significant advancement in the capability and properties of our propellant in the laboratory’s history. The mixture will allow us to increase the rate of motor production, introduce new grain geometries, and improve specific energy. Kiwi tests are static firings of singular propellant grains inside aluminum cases at a 4” scale. The structure of these tests looks nothing like that of a vehicle static fire and instead attempts to control all variables spare the propellant. These tests are named after Kiwis since Kiwis, like these cases, are flightless birds. Emu tests are identical to Kiwis but with double the grain length and propellant. Emus will allow USCRPL to test Hi-AL at higher chamber pressures and longer burn times.?

Aftershock II has officially become the highest and fastest amateur rocket of all time! Following its successful launch and recovery on October 20, 2024, data from the on-board avionics unit was collected and analyzed to reconstruct the rocket’s flight path. After a thorough internal review, the maximum altitude was determined to be 470,400 ft, with a top speed of 5,283 ft/s (Mach 5.5). This achievement is the result of 20 years of relentless engineering effort by hundreds of students—alumni and current—and we want to thank everyone who has contributed to this effort and supported us along the way! More details, along with the full data analysis, are available on our website: https://lnkd.in/gTd4WYjg Space Or Nothing! University of Southern California USC Viterbi School of Engineering