PARSEC Caltech Rocketry

Propellant Feed

“Anyone who sits on top of the largest hydrogen-oxygen fueled system in the world, knowing they’re going to light the bottom, and doesn’t get a little worried, does not fully understand the situation.” John Young — commander of the first Shuttle flight
PARSEC members cleaning propellant tanks for liquid-oxygen service
LOX tank cleaningFIG‑01
The team in the control room during a cold-flow test
Control room during cold-flow testFIG‑02

Icarus is a bi-propellant rocket burning liquid oxygen and kerosene, and the Propellant Feed team owns everything those fluids touch: the tanks, pressurization system, valves, and plumbing that deliver those propellants to our engine.

A landing burn is the worst case for a feed system: tanks running low, the vehicle translating and tilting, and the engine throttling — all while the injector demands steady pressure and flow. We design, analyze, and cold-flow test the system so the engine never has to wonder what's coming down the pipe.

Team interests

  • Fluid mechanics
  • Cryogenic engineering
  • Pressure vessel design
  • Valve and seal design

Responsible engineers

Projects

In development

Icarus feed system

Tanks, pressurization, and plumbing delivering LOX and kerosene to ICICLE through every phase of flight.