what is tyche?
Tyche is a 750lbf liquid bi-propellant rocket engine started by a group of 6 freshman bold enough to take on building a liquid rocket engine. They saw a need for medium thrust engines within the RDL and the opportunity to educate, so they took the challenge head on.
Over the course of the year, the team developed the engine through countless hours of research, design, prototyping, manufacturing, and educating and successfully hot-fired the engine.
Along the way, the team expanded as more freshman joined and has become one of the biggest educational projects in the RDL.
The team is currently being ran by current freshman/sophomores as the engine undergoes an extensive test campaign.
Tyche’s Design:
Tyche is comprised of a silica ablative wrapped chamber with a carbon fiber overlay. The LOX-Ethanol propellant is delivered via an unlike impinging doublet injector where is is ignited with our Augmented Spark Igniter.
An inside look:
A cross-sectional view allows you to see the inner workings of the engine. Fitted with stainless steel, aluminum, and silica ablative, the engine sports a reliable and robust frame perfect for rapid testing.
Tyche's Critical Design Review Presentation
Tyche's hot fire on Test Cell 3
The team working on wrapping a chamber
Cutting carbon fiber for the chamber overwrap
Performing final touches to the carbon overwrap
Tyche's test team performing test operations on Test Cell 3.
Tyche's full team photo
Tyche founding team photo post hot fire
A look into the Tyche's injector design