Current Projects
Test Stand
The center of MPL's propulsion program, built from the ground up and welded completely in-house. It's what lets us collect real, trustworthy data on every engine we run.
Data Acquisition
The test stand features a LabJack-powered data acquisition system, collecting data from over 14 pressure sensors and over 7 thermocouples in real time. That gives us an unbelievable amount of data on every engine we test, and the system has room to grow. In the future, we can outfit the stand with even more sensors as our testing needs get more demanding.
Built to Handle More Than We Need Today
The structure itself can withstand thrust up to 20,000 lbf without permanently deforming. Our current fluids system is only outfitted to test engines up to 5,000 lbf, but the stand was designed with serious headroom. Once we're able to test larger engines, it can also support a dual cryo propellant setup, meaning it can run LOX/LNG, a capability very few college test stands already have.
Every piece of the stand, from the welded steel frame to the plumbing, was built completely in-house by our team.
Tank Pressurization
Pressurization is handled by a custom bang-bang system, capable of holding tank pressures within ±5 psi. That's extremely accurate, and far more favorable than dome or spring-loaded regulators, which is what most teams use. Every single propellant valve the test stand uses was acquired through AVCO.
