The University of California, Davis, has been at the forefront of scientific advancements for decades. The discoveries made have been from individuals in various stages of their academic careers. Clubs on campus allow students and faculty to come together and brainstorm ideas to facilitate growth in a more relaxed setting. Kendall Manis was our Communications Officer at UC Davis during the spring 2023 quarter. In her article below, Kendall expands on the significance of the Aggie Propulsion Lab (APL) and Eclipse Rocketry clubs and their contribution to the science community. APL and Eclipse Rocketry have a shared interest in rocket science and have helped contribute to the science communications community.
Reaching for the Stars: The Birth of APRL — UC Davis’ Rocketry Collaboration
By Kendall Manis
Two clubs at the University of California, Davis, are pioneering the school to the stars – literally. Aggie Propulsion Lab (APL) and Eclipse Rocketry are merging to form one unified rocketry club that will see the launch of the school’s first liquid-fueled rocket.
The focus of APL is to exclusively build rocket engines, while Eclipse specializes in manufacturing rocket vehicles. Think of a car: the engine is the internal component, and the body composes the physical structure of the vehicle. The engine allows the body to drive, and the body enables the engine to move from place to place. Rockets are the same thing — engine and vehicle — intended for the atmosphere and not the road.
The two clubs were previously separate entities because, until just last year, APL did not exist. The club was established by Ali J. Gangeh, a freshman mechanical engineering undergraduate at the time. In his first year at Davis, Ali struggled to find a club that aligned with his specific passions. Undaunted, he took the initiative to establish a club catering to individuals with comparable interests. The result: Aggie Propulsion Lab.
Both clubs operate as completely student-run organizations boasting dozens of active members. Recently, the exciting news of their merger was made, driven by a shared objective: to collaboratively conceive, construct, test, and successfully launch UC Davis’ inaugural liquid fueled rocket.
This is no easy feat; it is rocket science, after all. The club is overseen by three Captains, the respective leaders of Eclipse and APL. For efficiency, the club is organized into four teams: electrical, propulsion, vehicle, and operations.
The Electrical team handles all electrical matters both within and outside the rocket. The propulsion team, further divided into the engine and propellent feed subteams ensures that the rocket is equipped to launch successfully. The vehicle team, consisting of recovery and airframe subteams, undertakes the construction of the entirety of the rocket vehicle. Operations oversee internal communications, fundraising, educational programs, and more.
So, what is so special about liquid rocket engines? Liquid rocket engines, as opposed to solid rocket engines, are the industry standard, with almost every rocket launched into space using liquid fuel. Liquid rocket fuel — cryogenic liquid oxygen — is stored at a temperature of -90 degrees Kelvin (-622 degrees Fahrenheit) and then combusted at temperatures over 3000 degrees Kelvin (4,940 degrees Fahrenheit). For reference, that is about half as hot as the temperature of our sun. The conditions are extreme, and it is quite challenging to harness such powerful chemical energy without causing component failure.
As complicated as that sounds, students are in good hands with the newly emerging club. A hands-on learning experience is emphasized, and the open-door policy means there are no requirements to join other than an interest in the mission. Members are assigned tasks that meet them at their current experience level, so everyone is able to contribute to the project in a meaningful way on their own time.
The collaborative effort between APL and Eclipse has led to the formation of the new club, Aggie Propulsion & Rocketry Lab (or APRL for short). APRL is harnessing the combined missions and talents of both clubs in order to create the most effective and inclusive environment for rocket-building at UC Davis. The club remains committed to its ongoing projects, fundraising endeavors for events, and educational programs, as well as actively participating in rocketry competitions. Keep your eyes in the sky around January 2025, as APRL sets its sights on an eagerly anticipated first launch.
Capital Science Communicators 