Halcyon

Halcyon is TREL’s premier launch vehicle, a liquid bi-propellant rocket. Halcyon MK1 possesses two Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel tanks (COPVs). Halcyon is also guided by a Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system. Each hardware and software component of this rocket is designed and evaluated by TREL members under the guidance of industry experts and alumni.

MK1

Simplified hardware configuration with blowdown pressurization system. Use the 2x LOx/RP-1 COPVs we have on hand that we previously used for pressure cycle testing. Start integration immediately and fly over winter break to double the collegiate altitude record.

MK2

The higher-performing variant of Halcyon that we have been designing for years will be called Halcyon Mk2. We will fly this vehicle in March over spring break, aiming to at least double the record we will set with Mk1.

Propulsion Teams

Propulsion focuses on the systems that power Halcyon and ensure its successful operation. At the heart of Halcyon is Havoc, its RP-1/LOx bipropellant engine – which is developed, tested, and integrated by the Engine team. The Fluids team is responsible for the systems that deliver propellant to Havoc, ensuring efficient performance. Additionally, the Propulsion team oversees the Thrust Vector Control system, which directs Halcyon’s flight trajectory.

Engine

The Engine team is responsible for the design, maintenance, and optimization of Havoc, a 3500 lbf thrust liquid bipropellant rocket engine powered by LOX and RP-1. We ensure the seamless integration of engines with Halcyon by managing engine data and conducting data analysis to constantly improve its performance. Our work involves designing, testing, analyzing, and refining every aspect of the engines to achieve peak efficiency and reliability. As a critical component of Halcyon, Havoc represents the culmination of our engineering expertise and dedication to advancing rocketry.

Fluids

The Fluids team is responsible for designing a system capable of delivering cryogenic liquid oxygen, volatile RP-1, and highly pressurised helium gas from the ground system through Halcyon’s COPVs to the engine in a safe, timely, and highly precise manner. This system interacts with several parts of the rocket and is continuous throughout all stages of Halcyon’s development. Our team members develop an understanding of how fluids behave and fluid dynamics which is applicable to a wide variety of industries. We also work with advanced hardware, instrumentation, and CAD and gain hands-on experience assembling fluids systems.

TVC

TVC, or Thrust Vector Control is the primary system that controls Halcyon’s trajectory. More specifically, it’s a two degree of freedom gimbal that attaches to the engine to redirect its thrust around the center axis. Currently, we are manufacturing our system and preparing to conduct structural and dynamic tests, as well as working to create robust mathematical models of the TVC system. Our work involves mechanical design, analysis, controls, prototyping, manufacturing, and testing.

Propulsion Software

Propulsion software primarily focuses on developing tools for labwide use for test operations. The tools currently in development and use right now are “Serenity” which is our program focused on testing our igniter and engine. As well as “QUASAR”, which is a program that serves propulsion and the rest of the lab as a data visualization from tests.

Structures Teams

The Structures teams are responsible for designing, manufacturing, and integrating Halcyon’s structural components and recovery system.

Airframe

The Airframe team is responsible for the primary structure of the rocket, including the design, manufacturing, and testing of critical components such as skirts, couplers, and composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). This work ensures the rocket’s structural integrity and reliability during flight. The team collaborates with other groups to test and ensure the structural integrity of various rocket components. Team members gain hands-on experience in core engineering principles, including solid mechanics, CAD, and test design methodologies.

Structures Manufacturing

Our team focuses on manufacturing all composite components of the rocket, working with fiberglass, dry carbon fiber, and prepreg materials. These include essential parts such as composite skirts, which make up the airframe of the rocket, raceways that house fluid lines, intertank connections, and the nosecone.

Recovery

Recovery has several mission critical responsibilities including but not limited to the safe recovery of Halcyon. Our major projects include: 1) The design and fabrication of the nosecone and the rocket’s only separation system. 2) The development of the 2-stage vehicle recovery system and nosecone recovery system. 3) The planning and execution of drop tests. Our members gain various experiences – including the development and testing of relevant circuits and GPS tracking systems for our components.

Test and Launch

Test and Launch focuses on the development and operation of the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and all other infrastructure that validate Halcyon’s mission from prior to integration all the way up to launch. The Test and Launch department consists of three test stands – The Engine Test Stand (located at Briggs TX) used to hotfire our engine, and validate the Engine Team’s designs. The Vehicle Test Stand used to static fire and launch our vehicle, and various smaller test stands located at our pickle research campus used to validate all the components that will eventually fly on MK1, and future iterations of Halcyon.

Flight Control Teams

The Flight Control teams are responsible for:

Flight Software

Flight Software is the team primarily responsible for writing code for the flight computers that will sit on the rocket. Our team handles sending receiving telemetry, managing the state machine of the rocket, and controlling the actuator, valves, radios, and more for everything else that sits on the rocket

GSW

The Ground Software team is responsible for building and deploying the software for Halcyon’s test and launch operations.

Guidance Navigation and Control team

GNC

The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) team is primarily tasked with determining the ideal flight path for the vehicle, estimating the vehicle’s state throughout the flight, and ensuring that the vehicle remains stable along its nominal trajectory. Members of the team use Simulink and C++ to create a computer model of Halcyon’s flight control theory to build and then use control theory to build algorithms that will actively control the rocket in flight.

Avionics

The Avionics Team is responsible for the designs, manufacturing, and integration of every electrical component, from power converters to wire harnesses to RF systems.

Integration

Integration is responsible for designing and building the tooling necessary to integrate andlaunch Halcyon as well as logistical plans for test and launch.