VENM ENGINE:
Thrust:
400 lbf
Pressure:
400 psi
Fuel:
Ethanol
Oxidizer:
Nitrous Oxide
Mixture Ratio:
4.0
Injector Type:
OFO Triplet
VENM-5 Launch Vehicle (VLV)
VLV was the Akronaut’s first liquid engine rocket and the first liquid-fueled rocket successfully flown and recovered by a collegiate rocket team in the State of Ohio. The VENM-5 engine was an iterative improvement over the VENM-4 engine with weight optimization and increased tank pressure. This vehicle also showcased the team’s first use of lightweight composite layup in flight. VLV had a nominal flight, reaching an apogee of 10,012 ft and mach 0.9.
Akronauts make history again: Launch first student-designed liquid rocket from Ohio
The University of Akron News
VENM-4 Stationary Vehicle (VSV) Hot Fire
The VSV hot fire of the VENM engine marked the first fully successful engine burn by the team. The injector sizing was improved, and the tank was switched to a larger diameter common piston bulkhead which allowed for a burn of 10 seconds with a maximum thrust of 350 lbf.
VENM-4
VENM (VaPak Ethanol Nitrous Motor) was the team’s first attempt at a liquid-fueled rocket engine. Starting with a senior design project in the Fall of 2020, the team spent the next 2 years building knowledge and experience around the testing and operation of liquid engines, while building our first test stand and using the senior design as a basis for the engine design. On September 10th, 2022, the engine was hot-fired for the first time.
