Abstract
Introduction
This thesis portfolio brings together a technical capstone project on rotating detonation
rocket engines (RDREs) and a Science and Technology Studies (STS) research paper examining
the governance, reliability, and adoption of emerging propulsion systems. While both projects
focus on RDRE technology, they approach the subject from a complementary perspective. The
technical project emphasizes the engineering challenges associated with detonation-based
propulsion, including stability, combustion efficiency, and material durability. In contrast, the
STS research investigates how institutional, organizational, and social factors shape the
development and adoption of these technologies. Together, these projects demonstrate that
RDRE development is not solely an engineering problem but a sociotechnical process in which
technical performance and institutional decision-making are deeply interconnected. This
relationship reflects a broader theme in engineering: technologies do not succeed based on
performance alone, but on their ability to meet expectations for reliability, safety, and trust.
Technical Capstone Project Summary
The technical capstone project focuses on the design, analysis, and evaluation of rotating
detonation rocket engines as a next-generation propulsion system. RDREs differ from
conventional rocket engines by using continuously propagating detonation waves rather than
deflagration-based combustion. This pressure-gain combustion process has the potential to
improve thermodynamic efficiency, increase thrust, and reduce fuel consumption. The project
explores the underlying physics of detonation, including wave propagation, fuel–oxidizer
mixing, and chamber geometry, to better understand the conditions required for stable operation.
A central challenge identified in the project is the difficulty of achieving consistent and
repeatable detonation behavior. Non-ideal effects such as incomplete mixing, boundary-layer
interactions, and unsteady wave dynamics introduce variability in performance. Additionally, the
extreme thermal and pressure conditions generated by detonation waves place significant stress
on engine materials, raising concerns about durability and lifespan. The project also considers
the role of advanced manufacturing techniques, such as additive manufacturing, in enabling more
complex injector designs that improve mixing and stability. However, these approaches
introduce new uncertainties related to material properties and certification.
Overall, the technical work highlights that while RDREs offer strong theoretical
advantages, their practical implementation depends on overcoming tightly coupled challenges in
combustion physics, materials engineering, and system integration. These findings establish the
technical foundation for understanding why RDEs remain in the experimental stage despite their
promise.
STS Research Paper Summary
The STS research paper builds on this technical foundation by examining how reliability,
uncertainty, and governance shape the development and adoption of RDRE technology. The
paper argues that technological advancement is not driven solely by performance improvements,
but by the ability of a system to meet institutional expectations for predictability, safety, and
certification. Drawing on engineering literature and STS frameworks, the research shows that
RDRE limitations, such as detonation instability, non-ideal combustion, and hardware durability,
translate into broader concerns about reliability and risk.
Using qualitative document analysis and comparative case methods, the study analyzes
technical research alongside historical aerospace case studies. Concepts such as Jasanoff’s co-
production and Vaughan’s “normalized deviance” are used to demonstrate how definitions of
reliability are shaped by institutional practices and organizational culture. The research
highlights that fragmented research efforts, inconsistent testing standards, and varying definitions
of performance across institutions hinder progress. In this context, reliability is not simply
measured through experimental results but negotiated through processes of validation,
certification, and trust-building.
The paper also explores how governance challenges, including regulatory frameworks
and public perception, influence technological adoption. Historical examples, such as the
cancellation of nuclear propulsion programs, illustrate how technologies can fail despite
technical feasibility if they lack institutional legitimacy. Similarly, RDREs face barriers related
to uncertainty and lack of standardization, which limit their ability to gain acceptance. The study
concludes that the future of RDRE technology depends not only on solving engineering
challenges but also on developing governance structures that support transparency,
standardization, and trust.
Conclusion
Working on both the technical and STS projects simultaneously provided a deeper
understanding of RDRE development than either project could have offered independently. The
technical work initially framed RDRE challenges as problems of combustion stability, material
performance, and system design. However, the STS research revealed that these technical issues
are inseparable from broader institutional and social dynamics. For example, instability is not
only a physical phenomenon but also a source of uncertainty that affects how organizations
assess risk and make decisions about funding, certification, and deployment.
Conversely, the technical project grounded the STS analysis in the realities of
engineering practice. Rather than treating concepts like reliability and uncertainty as abstract
ideas, the technical work demonstrated how these issues emerge from specific physical
processes, such as detonation wave behavior and material stress. This connection helped clarify
how sociotechnical concepts apply directly to engineering systems, showing that institutional
concerns are rooted in tangible technical challenges.
The integration of these perspectives ultimately led to a more comprehensive
understanding of innovation. RDRE development is not a linear progression from research to
application, but a negotiated process shaped by the interaction of technical performance,
organizational practices, and societal expectations. This synthesis highlights the value of
combining engineering and STS approaches, demonstrating that successful technological
development requires attention to both technical feasibility and the systems of governance and
trust that enable adoption. By working on both projects together, this thesis provides a more
complete picture of what it takes for emerging technologies to move from theoretical promise to
practical reality.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Technical Advisor: Chloe Dedic
STS Advisor: MC Forelle
Technical Team Members: Connor Green, Irion Thompson, Josiah Martin, Brandon Dawson, Albert Castellon-Prado, Frederic Ramirez-Melenciano, Derek Liu, Tyler Verry, Spence Hartman, Jonathan Wang, Saif Rahman, Tyler Fisher, Ryan Malatesta
