Abstract
Research and development in propulsion systems is becoming increasingly important as the space industry evolves and demands more advanced technologies for interplanetary travel. The technical thesis project, Test Facility Design for Detonation Characterization Through Curved Rectangular Channels, focuses on designing a compact and cost-effective detonation test facility to study detonation waves as they travel through curved channels analogous to those present within rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs). This work is valuable because it supports the development of a promising propulsion technology while reducing cost barriers and expanding access to detonation research. The accompanying Science and Technology Studies (STS) research paper, Space Commercialization: Technology, Sustainability, and Epistemology in The New Frontier, examines how the growing role of commercial actors in space shapes sustainability and knowledge production. This research highlights how commercialization not only drives technological progress but also influences what is considered responsible practice and valuable research. Together, these projects reflect the modern aerospace research landscape, where technical development and sociotechnical factors are increasingly interconnected.
The project follows a systems engineering approach, defining mission objectives, requirements, and constraints before dividing the system into subsystems: gas and ignition, main test structure, and diagnostics. The design includes a linear pre-detonator and a curved main test section. Analytical calculations and simulations support the design and validate system performance.
The resulting test facility meets its primary goals of compactness and affordability, remaining under the $5000 budget while maintaining a minimal spatial footprint. Although the original goal emphasized modularity with multiple interchangeable curved channels, manufacturing time and cost constraints led to a more focused initial design. Nonetheless, the current configuration demonstrates the feasibility of future modular expansion. A central challenge involves balancing modularity with effective sealing to prevent gas leakage at component interfaces. Addressing this challenge will be critical for future iterations, with efforts focused on improving sealing methods while preserving flexibility. Overall, the facility represents a scalable platform for continued detonation research.
The STS paper asks: How does space commercialization influence sustainability and epistemic values? This research illuminates how profit-driven technological development shapes interpretations of responsible exploration and legitimate knowledge. Using the co-production framework, it analyzes how these elements both shape and are shaped by commercialization through literature review and policy analysis.
The paper argues that space sustainability is co-produced through the interaction of market forces and policy. The persistence of untracked orbital debris, combined with largely voluntary compliance, complicates mitigation efforts. Incentive-based approaches, such as performance bonds, aim to create economic motivation for debris removal and more resilient satellite design. In this way, sustainability becomes embedded within commercial systems rather than treated solely as a technical issue. Similarly, epistemic values are co-produced with commercialization. As private actors take a larger role in funding and conducting research, commercial priorities increasingly influence what knowledge is pursued and valued. Reduced government funding further reinforces this shift, aligning research agendas with market demands. As a result, knowledge production and commercialization evolve together, demonstrating their mutual influence in shaping the future of space activity.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Technical Advisor: Chloe Dedic
STS Advisor: Pedro Francisco
Technical Team Members: Josiah Martin, Connor Green, Alvin Kim, Irion Thompson, Brandon Dawson, Albert Castellon-Prado, Frederic Ramirez-Melenciano, Derek Liu, Tyler Verry, Spence Hartman, Jonathan Wang, Saif Rahman, Tyler Fisher, Ryan Malatesta
