​Description:

The Sounding Rocket & Engine Sizing Tool began as a Matlab script based off the Preliminary Launch Vehicle Design project performed as part of my USC coursework. In an attempt to make the script more accessible, I began rewriting it for use with Python. The purpose of the tool is to assist individuals and groups quickly obtain preliminary values regarding the sizing of a single-stage, liquid bi-propellant sounding rocket.

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Future Work:

The sizing tool currently supports preliminary design calculations and save functions; however, is far from complete. The next step for the script will be to include a Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg 45 ODE solver (or similar) in order to determine vehicle flight performance over a given duration. The current iteration of the script also only supports a Jet-A/Liquid Oxygen propellant combination; future iterations will include a wider array of propellant combinations. In addition to some remaining minor bugs and left-over old code which needs to be cleaned and/or removed, I would also like to package the script as a single executable which can then be simply run on any Windows machine.

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Responsibilities:

• Modified previously created Matlab script for use with Python in order to utilize open source software and achieve a higher level of accessibility

• Designed graphical user interface (GUI) to allow users to easily and quickly adjust up to 17 inputs in order to obtain the desired results

• Researched existing similar sounding rockets in order to validate calculations and the accuracy of results generated by the script

• Self-taught Python to enhance coding skills