2019 QRET Rocket Launch at Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico
Since 2018, I have been a principal member of the Queen's Rocket Engineering Team. In my first year on the team, I took on the role of Marketing Coordinator, bringing fresh, energetic merchandise to the team. This merchandise stays with us today, where students yearn for a blue hoodie or formal polo shirt I introduced.
At the same time, I became heavily involved in the aerostructures subteam, expanding my involvement in manufacturing design and refining my CAD and composite manufacturing skills through countless efforts. As a result of this dedication, I was selected as one of 12 members to participate in the 2019 Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico. At the competition, we had a nominal flight reaching 24,400ft, reaching a maximum velocity of Mach 1.4.
This involvement led me to become the Manufacturing lead for the following year, where I introduced the mechanical testing of the composite components and introduced infusion layup methods to refine the production of composite parts. Unfortunately, COVID-19 was around the corner and halted all further work on the rocket.
In 2019, QRET competed for the first time in the 30,000 ft competition with a commercial off-the-shelf rocket motor. A nominal flight was achieved, and 6th place was achieved in the category. The rocket achieved an astonishing Mach 1.4.
My involvement in specifically tailored to the manufacturing and manufacturing design of the aero frame. Special design considerations and complications were cleverly overcome in the manufacturing of the nose cone, body tubes and fins.
In 2020, I led the transition to infusion carbon fibre and away from wet layups, resulting in reduced waste and overall stronger, more consistent carbon parts. Additionally, we began testing the carbon strength to reduce the overall thickness of the carbon fibre. This research was halted due to COVID 19.
2022 QRET Rocket Launch at Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico