About The Propulsion Research Lab
The Propulsion Research Lab at Utah State University (PRL-USU) advances aerospace innovation using hybrid rocket engines. The PRL was founded in 2008 by MAE Professor Stephen Whitmore and was started to support student design projects for the NASA University Student launch Initiative (USLI), now called the "Student Launch Challenge." Named "the Chimaera Project," the USU student design teams were incredibly successful, winning the National USLI competition 4 times in 5 years (2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012).
Since 2012, the PRL has transitioned into a research laboratory with the express purpose of developing Hybrid rocket systems as reduced-hazard, environmentally friendly, "Green" replacements for solid-propellant launch stages and hydrazine-based in-space propulsion systems. The USU Propulsion Research Laboratory has all required in-house capabilities to support a wide swath of technology development and experimental testing. A key capability is the on-campus Battery Limits and Survivability Testing (BLAST) laboratory. To date, more than 1200 hot-fire tests of hybrid, solid, bi-propellant, and jet engine systems have been performed in the BLAST facility.
