Teams
We are a big organization with lots of members. To keep a system of our size operational, we've divided our lab into a number of teams over the years. This page is dedicated to highlighting those individual teams within the lab.
Engineering
Avionics Hardware
Avionics Hardware is concerned with all the physical electronics onboard Halcyon. This includes the physical power and telemetry systems and the connections between all devices and their associated flight computers for data collection. Our team members gain vast knowledge in the workings of avionics systems in the rocket industry. This ranges from the process of designing and assembling wire harnesses to the design and manufacturing of batteries and their supportive components. The team also utilizes different software for CAD modeling, PCB design, and even testing. Members in the RF sub-team also gain a thorough understanding of radio communication and how to utilize it in different applications.
Avionics Software
The AvSoftware team creates flight software that controls the vehicle in flight and Mission Control Software which monitors the vehicle from the ground. The team also develops the hardware-in-the-loop testing system used to validate the flight computer in simulated flight-like conditions. Our members gain experience with ground antennae and RF devices, and work primarily in Python and C++.
Fins
The Fins team is tasked with designing, manufacturing, and testing the fins aboard Halcyon. To do so, we work extensively with CFD and CADs to create fin geometries and use various manufacturing processes to bring those digital models to life. We also conduct a variety of tests to ensure that the designed and manufactured fins meet our specified criteria.
Fluids
The Fluids team is responsible for designing a system capable of delivering cryogenic liquid oxygen, volatile RP-1, and highly pressurized helium gas from the ground system through Halcyon's COPVs to the engine in a safe, timely, and highly precise manner. This system interacts with several parts of the rocket and is continuous throughout all stages of Halcyon’s development. Our team members develop an understanding of how fluids behave and fluid dynamics which is applicable to wide variety of industries. We also work with advanced hardware, instrumentation, and CAD and gain hands-on experience assembling fluids systems.
Guidance, Navigation, & Control
The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) team is primarily tasked with determining the ideal flight path for the vehicle, estimating the vehicle's state throughout the flight, and ensuring that the vehicle remains stable along its nominal trajectory. Members of the team use Simulink and C++ to create a computer model of Halcyon's flight dynamics and then use control theory to build algorithms that will actively control the rocket in flight.
Operations
The Operations team ensures that engineers have what they need, when they need it. Operations enforces project ownership and sets up operating standards and intra-sub team consistency. Operations members are not experts on engineering, they are experts on the project process and the timeline for Halcyon. Responsibilities include:
- Update project timelines and assess blockers to Halcyon's advancement.
- Facilitate procurement process and upkeep budgeting documents in alignment with project timelines.
- Communicate regularly with business and technical leads to understand and document scope and progress of their teams.
- Integrate efforts of business, outreach, DEI, and technical teams into a cohesive and inclusive lab environment.
Payload
The Payload will be housed in the nosecone of the rocket and supported by a lightweight chassis. At 100 km, the nosecone detaches from the rocket with the payload inside, from then on the Payload operates entirely autonomously. The Payload has two primary missions; Mesospheric UV Data Collection, and proving a rapid inflation neutral buoyancy meteorological balloon concept. The Payload is very compact and highly integrated, and our team comes from a very diverse suite of backgrounds. All Payload members get hands on experience with test engineering, design, and manufacturing.
Production
Production fabricates the designs. Production uses the ME machine shop and various machining equipment to transform our CADs into a reality. Members of the production team take 3D drawings and focus on precision and detail when machining parts.
Propulsion
Propulsion is responsible for the design and analysis of TREL's engines and nozzles. Currently, the propulsion team's work is split between our two main engines; TXE-2 (manufactured by EOS and Elementum) and the flight-ready Havoc engine which will power the Halcyon rocket to the edge of space. When completed, Havoc's regeneratively cooled, pressure fed, additively manufactured design will be one the most advanced ever produced by a collegiate rocketry lab. Currently, the team has completed post-processing the TXE-2 engine and is beginning testing. Our members gain a holistic understanding of TREL’s engines and their testing procedures as well as experience in Python.
Recovery
Recovery has several mission critical responsibilities including but not limited to the safe recovery of Halcyon. Our major projects include: 1) The design and fabrication of the nosecone and the rocket's only separation system. 2) The development of the 2-stage vehicle recovery system and nosecone recovery system. 3) The planning and execution of drop tests. Our members gain various experience - including the development and testing of relevant circuits and GPS tracking systems for our components.
Systems Integration Team
The System Integrations Team (SIT) is a bridge between the admin team and design systems. SIT members act as a point of contact between systems and work on full rocket integration problems. With CAD and system engineering principles, SIT defines the integration of the virtual and physical vehicle assembly. SIT acts as a point of contact between subteams and works on full rocket integration problems. As a member, you'll work on projects that involve maintaining team-to-team communication and documentation or ones that involve multiple teams working together.
Structures
The Structures team’s role in TREL is to design the fuel tanks, airframe, and integration mounts the rocket. The fuel tanks are 3 composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) and comprise most of the volume of the rocket. The airframe is a carbon fiber composite sandwich structure that connects the fuel tanks together. They also design secondary structures for mounting avionics, sensors, fluid lines, valves, etc. as well as an engine mount that transfers thrust from the engine to the rest of the rocket.
TVC
TVC, or Thrust Vector Control is the primary system that controls Halcyon’s trajectory. More specifically, it's a two degree of freedom gimbal that attaches to the engine to redirect its thrust around the center axis. Currently, we are finalizing the design and running simulations to ensure both our system and test stand will be structurally sound while meeting all the actuation requirements. New members will experience mechanical design and prototyping, and hopefully manufacturing and testing integration as we transition out of our design cycle.
Business
Communication
The Communications team is responsible for creating and maintaining TREL’s brand through our website, newsletters, and social media content. We interact extensively with all the engineering teams to highlight their work on Halcyon and share TREL’s mission with the community. Our team members work with a variety of tools and can gain experience in:
- Website development using HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- Technical Writing and newsletter tools such as MailChimp
- Social media advertising on Instagram and LinkedIn
- Creative content brainstorming and creation in photography and videography
- Working in an interdisciplinary team
Outreach
The Outreach team is dedicated to increasing community interest in rockets and in rocketry. We travel around the Austin area visiting schools, orphanages, and doing UT events to educate students about the various fields involved in the rocket industry. Our goal is to develop a passion for space in students. Our members develop skills in:
- Public speaking: Communicating with a wide variety of people with various levels of space knowledge, from students to professionals
- Professional communication: Writing emails reaching out to potential partners and schools
- Simplification: Break down complex ideas to educate students
- Creative planning: Producing mini experiments to educate students
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The TREL Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Team is an integral part of the Lab. TREL is committed to ensuring that our lab provides equal opportunity and inclusion. Members gain skills and work on projects that are like those in the aerospace industry. Our team members:
- Organize DEI speaker events and trainings
- Analyze lab metrics and feedback forms, write grants, and improve the recruitment process
- Communicate and maintain relationships with all TREL teams and DEI sources in the Cockrell School of Engineering
- Communicate with team members, TREL teams, and DEI sources within the Cockrell School of Engineering on a regular basis
Corporate Development
The Corporate Development team actively develops and maintains partnerships and corporate support for TREL's projects. Our team members gain experience advocating for TREL's interests and working with professionals in various industries and across Cockrell.
Finance and Strategy
Finance and Strategy (F&S) manages TREL’s financial and operational positioning through finance and procurement. Together, F&S ensures that the lab properly allocates its $1M budget, secures critical partnerships, and assists the engineering teams in procuring parts/supplies so they can build the best rocket possible. Our team members actively:
- Maintain the budgetary framework of funding for lab’s procurement, production, operations, & testing activities
- Apply performance reporting & forecast appropriate fund issuances to model TREL’s spending rates & burnout capacities
- Track operational & administrative expenditures to build in-depth quarterly reports that represent lab’s financial logistics
Test Operations
Hotfire
The Hotfire team creates the engine test stand and tests Halcyon’s engine. Their stand combines integrated fluids systems, electronic hardware, and software (LabVIEW and MATLAB). The team also integrates extensively with the propulsion team to create test plans and procedures. Our team gains hands-on experience with all aspects of systems design, manufacturing, and test operations in a team environment focused on communication.
Stage Test & Launch
Stage Test works on Ground Structure and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and integration of the different moving parts and ensuring the success of inter-team testing. This teams include engineers working in fluids, structures, and electronics who will learn to problem solve on a large-scale debugging project.
Launch Operations plans and scopes the details of our launch. The team interfaces with ground structure equipment, communications with ground software, and schedules rocket fueling and fluid lines and gathers atmospheric data by the Weather Balloon team. This team offers the opportunity to use CAD and structural analysis as we research and design a launch rail for Halcyon.