Research Motors... Can Be Easy As...

Presented by Tony Alcoser

Synopsis: 
This presentation will explore the chemistry and essential components of APCP motors, with a strong focus on safety throughout each stage of production. Audience participation from experienced research members is encouraged. The session will highlight how accessible it is to mix, pack, cut, and core research motors. A hands-on demonstration will use common household products—such as Karo syrup, table salt, and vanilla extract—for weighing, hand mixing, and packing. Inert pre-made grain sticks will be used to demonstrate cutting and coring techniques. Additionally, attendees will learn how to create inexpensive packing tools using PVC pipe from home improvement stores.

Presenter Bio: 
Tony has been passionate about rocketry since childhood, a passion he shared with his son, AJ, who now holds a TRA Level 2 certification. Tony has been Level 3 certified for 20 years and considers Black Rock and AeroPac his home field and club. His introduction to Research rocketry came from influential figures such as Jim Green, John Lyngdal, Jim Amos, and others, as well as insights from Terry McCreary’s book.

Schedule:
Willow Room - Thursday, May 15, 6:00 PM

Elevating Native Voices in STEM & Aerospace: First Nations Launch

Presented by Andrea Lopez Arguello

Synopsis: 
The First Nations Launch (FNL) competition, held annually in Kenosha, Wisconsin, introduces Native American students to high-powered rocketry through hands-on learning. Designed for beginners, FNL challenges participants to design, build, and launch rockets within specific constraints, fostering technical skills, creativity, and teamwork. The competition promotes STEM education while celebrating Native American ingenuity. This presentation explores FNL’s role in inspiring aerospace innovation by bridging cultural heritage with modern technology. It highlights past and current challenges, such as drone deployment, GPS mapping, and custom payload design. Drawing from experience in Physics and Astrophysics at UC Davis and Level 2 rocketry certification, the speaker will discuss FNL’s impact on diversity in aerospace and its role in creating STEM pathways for underserved communities.

Presenter Bio: 
Andrea Lopez Arguello holds a degree in Astrophysics from UC Davis, where they led the FNL team to first-place victories in 2021 and 2022. A Level 2 rocketeer, Andrea has competed in NASA’s Student Launch Initiative and now mentors UC Davis and local high school teams in rocketry design and integration. She also serves as a launch control operator whenever possible.

Schedule: 
Seqouia Room - Thursday, May 15, 6:00 PM

Meet Mojave Sphinx: A Closer Look at Simple Liquid Rockets

Presented by Austin Sennott

Synopsis:
At BALLS 32, a very unique rocket, powered by an M-class liquid bipropellant motor, took to the skies and completed four flawless flights under official Tripoli allowance. But how does it work? Is it safe? What was the process for a Tripoli liquid launch? This presentation will take a deep dive into the details of Half Cat Rocketry’s innovative designs and its most prominent rocket, Mojave Sphinx, and describe the process of gaining approval for its demonstration flights at BALLS.

Presenter Bio: 
Austin Sennott is a Level 2 certified Tripoli member and Senior Propulsion Engineer at Anduril Industries, a Costa Mesa-based startup aerospace defense company. He received his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida, and is currently pursuing an MSAE from California State University, Long Beach. His professional experience encompasses design and testing of both nitrous oxide propulsion systems and LOX/Kerosene engines up to 75,000lbf.

Schedule: 
Willow Room - Thursday, May 15, 7:00 PM

The Bright Brant: M Sparky at Night

Presented by Dave Hewitt

Synopsis:
The Bright Brant is a 6" diameter, 10' tall Composite Warehouse Black Brant II, designed for night flight. It features independently lit sections (fin can, midsection, and nose) with FlexFire LEDs shining through the fiberglass. The rocket has been successfully flown on an AeroTech M1600R and twice at night on an AeroTech M1305M, reaching 7,600 feet. A key safety feature allows the LCO to track deployment events: two points of light appear after drogue deployment, and three after main deployment, confirming nominal recovery. This presentation will cover the concept of lighting fiberglass, LED selection and installation, battery choices, and mounting techniques. A short launch video will be shown, highlighting the boost phase and deployment events to demonstrate the rocket’s visibility and tracking advantages in night flights.

Presenter Bio:

Dave Hewitt has been launching rockets since childhood but became involved in high-power rocketry in 2021. That year, he earned his Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, followed by his Level 3 certification in 2022. Since then, he has completed hundreds of rocket flights, ranging from A to N motors.

A longtime fan of night flights, Dave’s interest began with his Leading Edge Alien build. Seeking to take night rocketry to the next level, he designed Nightshow, a rocket that regularly flies on a J340M at night. His latest project, the Bright Brant, extends this concept to Level 3 performance, incorporating LED illumination for enhanced visibility and tracking. The construction and successful flights of the Bright Brant remain one of his most significant rocketry achievements.

Schedule: 
Seqouia Room - Thursday, May 15, 7:00 PM

Core Designs for Heavy Lifting and for Long Burn Motors

Presented by Donald Cosgrove

Synopsis: 
The presentation will cover the geometry of fuel core design and the use of alternative configurations, such as nested grains and right triangles, to achieve unique burn characteristics. The nested core design provides consistent high thrust throughout the burn, while the right triangle design can be configured for high initial thrust, followed by lower thrust, extending the total burn time to over 14 seconds. These alternative designs also allow for greater fuel capacity within the grain compared to a traditional circular core.

Presenter Bio: 
Donald Cosgrove is a Level 3 certified member of Tripoli Rocketry Association, with extensive experience in fuel core design. Over the years, he has developed a deep understanding of various core configurations and their impact on rocket performance. In addition to his technical expertise, he is actively involved in mentoring the next generation of rocketeers. He works with students at Krueger Middle School and guides a high school team competing in the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC), helping them develop skills in rocket design, construction, and performance optimization. Through his mentorship, he fosters a passion for aerospace and STEM education in young students.

Schedule: 
Willow Room - Thursday, May 15, 8:00 PM

What the Black Powder Calculators Aren't Telling Us

Presented by Thomas Fetter

Synopsis: 
Many black powder calculators for parachute deployment trace back to the Info Central website, but real-world flight experience has shown their recommendations don’t always ensure successful deployment. This presentation details extensive pressure chamber and deployment fixture testing to determine optimal black powder charges for various recovery configurations. Key factors such as recovery blankets, pistons, shear pins, parachute size and location, and ambient pressure were analyzed to assess their impact on deployment success. Additionally, the presentation introduces a new model developed through testing, offering a more accurate approach to black powder charge calculation. This model enhances understanding of black powder performance and how different deployment setups influence pressure generation, providing a more reliable method for parachute deployment. 

Presenter Bio: 
Tom is a retired electrical engineer with 38 years of experience at Keysight Technologies (formerly Agilent and HP) as an R&D engineer and engineering manager. A founding member of 180 Studios Maker Space in Santa Rosa, he now applies his engineering skills to high-power rocketry. His interests include modeling rocket flight dynamics and designing vertical trajectory control systems. Tom holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT.

Schedule: 
Seqouia Room - Thursday, May 15, 8:00 PM

Propellant Testing and Characterization

Presented by John DeMar

Synopsis: 
This presentation explores various test methods used to determine the burn rate characteristics of solid propellants. The basic test setup and post-firing calculations will be explained in an accessible way for amateur rocketry enthusiasts. It will cover how burn rate data is applied to predict thrust curves across different motor configurations and the challenges of scaling to larger motors or alternative grain designs. Additionally, the presentation will briefly discuss secondary combustion effects such as erosivity, resonance, high-pressure exponents, and in-flight stresses. Guidelines will be provided to help mitigate failure modes that are difficult to test and predict.

Presenter Bio: 
John DeMar has 25 years of experience designing and launching experimental solid rocket motors, ranging from 12mm composites to 8” hardware. With over 40 years of professional experience, he has worked for GE Aerospace, NASA, and various military, industrial, and medical projects. John earned his AAS in Engineering Technology from SUNY Canton and both BS and MS degrees in Engineering from Syracuse University. He has also taught at Syracuse University and NM State University. Now, he enjoys life on a dead-end dirt road in the desert outside Las Cruces, NM.

Schedule: 
Willow Room - Friday, May 16, 6:00 PM

Latest Advances in Designing and Building 3D Printed High Power Rockets

Presented by Paul Trainer

Optimizing Thrust Performance in Hybrid Rocket Engines Through Fuel Grain Geometry and Boundary Condition Modifications

Presented by Youssef Abdelhalim, Andy Wehmeyer, Steven Kitchell & Spencer Guy

Synopsis: 
This project optimizes hybrid rocket engines by examining how fuel grain geometry and boundary conditions impact thrust efficiency. While hybrids—using solid fuel and liquid oxidizer—are safer and easier to handle than solid or liquid systems, they suffer from 25-33% lower thrust due to inefficient combustion and flow dynamics. Research shows helical fuel ports improve regression rates over traditional cylindrical designs, and finned sections at the head of cylindrical grains enhance combustion. However, no studies have explored fins on helical ports. To address this, a modular testing rig was developed to evaluate fuel port geometry, post-combustion chamber size, and nozzle convergence rate, aiming to reduce instability and improve combustion efficiency. Computational modeling complements physical testing to refine fuel regression rates. Preliminary results confirm that helical grains outperform cylindrical ones, with added fins further enhancing performance. Future work will explore smoother boundary transitions at the inlet and outlet for further thrust optimization.

Presenter Bios:

• Youssef Abdelhalim is a B.S./M.S. student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Northwestern, focusing on aerodynamics, propulsion, and CFD. A NUSTARS member, he has worked on NASA’s USLI and independently earned NAR/TRA Level 1 & 2 certifications.
• Andy Wehmeyer (NAR# 114427, TRA# 29428, L3) is a Northwestern senior and NUSTARS co-president. He has led major rocketry projects, including Project Ceres and a two-stage demonstrator vehicle. After graduation, he will join SpaceX’s Starship primary structures team.
• Steven Kitchell is a senior in Applied Mathematics & Mechanical Engineering, specializing in aerodynamics, propulsion, and CFD. He interned at Boeing Aerosciences, focusing on high-speed aerodynamic design and rocket engine optimization. A TRA member, he contributes to Northwestern’s hybrid rocket program.
• Spencer Guy is pursuing B.S. & M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in Music at Northwestern. A NASA Langley intern, he researched liquid engine performance for lunar and Martian EDL. He plans a career in propulsion and continued NASA collaboration.

Schedule: 
Willow Room - Friday, May 16, 7:00 PM

Mach 3.5 Under 6 Pounds - The Beginner's Guide to High-Mach Rocketry

Presented by Thomas Booska

High Burn Rate Experimental Propellants

Presented by Alexander Patrus

Synopsis:
High burn rate propellants are critical in boosted dart motors, first stages, and endburners, delivering high-thrust visual impact at launches. Developing fast-burning experimental propellants is challenging due to unpredictable catalysts, overpressure risks, and a vast array of potential additives. This presentation explores catalysis methods for solid propellants, supported by experimental findings. Successful catalysts tested include copper and carbon (enhancing conduction), potassium perchlorate (increasing burn rate exponent), iron oxides, copper oxide, ferrocene/catocene, and manganese dioxide. Operating at extreme pressures has also proven effective in increasing burn rates. Research has led to propellants burning over three times faster than Warp-9, providing insights into achieving exceptionally high-performance combustion.

Presenter Bio:
Alexander Patrus works at Castelion on hypersonics and is a TRA/NAR member in Southern California. He has developed large-scale, high-burn-rate motors, including the N10000 and a 5-inch, 40% P motor. He flew the fastest amateur rocket (Mach 5.5+), with flight data possibly exceeding that due to accelerometer limits. His expertise in high-thrust motor design is backed by extensive flight testing and spectacular imagery of advanced propulsion systems.

Schedule: 
Willow Room - Friday, May 16, 8:00 PM

Landing a Model Rocket on the Launch Tower Like Space X

Presented by Morgan Sandercock