Propulsion Research and Academic Programs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville - PRC Laboratory Capabilities - 2018

摘要

The UAH Propulsion Research Center (PRC) is in its 27th year at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). The mission of the Propulsion Research Center is to provide an environment that connects the academic research community with the needs and concerns of the propulsion community while promoting an interdisciplinary approach to solving propulsion problems. This paper summarizes recent metrics from academic and research programs. The emphasis this year is on describing the fifteen different laboratories associated with the UAH Propulsion Research Center. Laboratory highlights in 2018 include a significant upgrade of our Rocket Test Stand capabilities, which includes a 2-pound-per-second cryogenic feed system, a 2,000 pound capacity thrust test stand, and a new high-speed data acquisition and control system. In the 2017 fiscal year, total research expenditures from fifteen different agencies rose to $1.884 million (a 20% increase). Two Ph.D., eight master's students, and numerous undergraduate students obtained degrees in conjunction with the center. The PRC continues to be a resource to perform both fundamental and applied research. It is also a significant contributor to workforce development in the propulsion and energy field.