As the Chief Engineer of SOAR at Pitt, I oversaw and personally developed many technical projects including solid rocket motor manufacturing & testing, air brake & mechanical hardware design, and organizational outreach.
My time with SOAR allowed me to develop advanced skills in various 3D CAD tools, including Onshape, SOLIDWORKS, and Fusion-360. Additionally, I developed a strong foundation in AutoCAD for 2D design.
All 3D designs were part of the engineering development process to create rapid, 3D-printed prototypes and robust final products. These projects were all showcased in the team's participation in the 2024 Spaceport America Cup or the 2025 International Rocket Engineering Competition.
Deployable 2U CubeSat Payload
For IREC 2025, I led development of CubeSat form factor payload project. The payload vehicle's intended mission was to deploy and land separately from the rocket vehicle during the recovery phase at an altitude of 1,200 ft. This vehicle was equipped with a custom flight computer, structural frame, recovery mechanism, and wireless arming capability. It resulted in a successful deployment.
Bolt-on Aerodynamic Camera Shroud
PAX 1 was SOAR's first rocket with onboard video. This camera protruded from the rocket and pointed down towards the ground. I created a housing to minimize drag and to protect the camera device. Inside the rocket, a separate camera mounting was also created.Â
Solid Rocket Motor Project Drawings
Using AutoCAD, I created an isometric drawing of the rocket motor test stand used in the 98mm full-scale static fire of Blue in 2024. This drawing was used for design documentation, dimensional references, and member safety training ahead of SOAR's first successful solid motor static fire.
Using AutoCAD, I created a drawing of the 98mm rocket motor hardware and assembly order. The drawing includes all aspects of the rocket motor apart from the fuel and o-rings. This drawing was used along with the test stand diagram for documentation and training on motor assembly to ensure safe and reliable motor operation.