Current Projects
Nexus
MPL's first-ever and most complicated vehicle. Instead of building a traditional rocket, we're building a vertical lander to compete in the CPLC.
Anatomy of Nexus
Aeroshell
The lander's outer skin, covering the internals for flight.
Feed System Bay
Carbon-fiber propellant tanks and the plumbing that feeds the engine.
Propulsion Bay
Avionics, valves, and control hardware packed around the engine mount.
Thrust Structure & Legs
The landing legs and mount that carry Helios and take the load at touchdown.
A Lander, Not a Rocket
We're taking a different approach than most propulsion teams. Instead of building a traditional rocket, we're building a vertical lander to compete in the CPLC. It's projected to be one of the first and most powerful student-built landers in the United States.
Precision Landing
The vehicle can perform trajectory control to the nearest meter, and we hope to have it land within half a meter of the assigned landing point. Combined with its engine, Nexus is on track to be the most powerful active-controlled rocket, in terms of impulse, operated by any high school team.
Powered by Helios
Nexus is powered by Helios, our 600 lbf LOX/Ethanol regen-cooled engine built specifically for the demands of landing: deep throttle and a wide gimbal range.