LEON 1
SPECIFICATIONS
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Total Cost: $17,000
Material: Cobalt Chromium
Cycle: Pressure Fed
Cooling: Regenerative
Chamber Pressure: 1,040 psi (7.2 MPa)
Thrust: 2,000 lbf (9.0 kN)
Specific Impulse: 300 seconds (Sea Level)
THE VISION
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As aerospace engineers at SEDS SJSU, we aimed to assist in the technologies needed to land humans on Mars, specifically developing the area of liquid methane propulsion. Consisting of about 93% carbon and oxygen by mass, a liquid oxygen/liquid methane propellant combination can be manufactured directly from the Martian atmosphere, which itself is 96% CO2.
We wished to demonstrate this technology, coupled with the concept of "rapid prototyping" in the form of 3D printing, with SJSU's first rocket engine, the Leon I. Design calculations and computer modeling were completed in the winter of 2015, and CFD simulations confirmed our results (see images). We also received an official quote from GPI Prototyping in Lake Bluff, IL, so provided enough funds, we had the potential of making our dream a reality. The total cost with all test stand accessories (and with 5% extra that GoFundMe receives) was $17,000. For more information, you may download my master's project/thesis in PDF format next to the specifications.
While we failed in raising enough money to build the Cobalt prototype, we WERE able to raise enough to have a full-scale plastic mockup fabricated in order to perform a hydro flow test (see video).
