Future engineers are getting their education in Morse’s backyard, and the company is stepping up to help support and encourage continued research and developments.
The University of Akron’s Akronauts Rocket Design Team is a student-led organization with nearly 200 undergrad members. In June, the team competed in the Spaceport America Cup against teams from all over the world. They were recognized with the Jim Furfaro Technical Excellence Award for demonstrating exceptional engineering discipline and technical skill through their analyses and conclusions, project or program planning and execution, operational procedure, manufacturing processes, iterative improvement, systems engineering methodology, and robust design.
Their 20-foot, two-stage competition rocket – named the “I Promise Project” was built in partnership with the Lebron James Family Foundation and students at the I Promise School in Akron to introduce them to rocketry and promote an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
“Everything we put into our projects is designed and manufactured by members of the team. Our funding is a fraction of that of the big-name schools we compete with,” Kannan said. “This doesn’t hold us back, but rather causes us to take more care in ensuring complete functionality of our components. And that’s when we start asking for help from people we think could help us the most.”
Morse has lent its support to the group with a $5,000 donation and materials support including cutting tools and metal for future rocket builds.
The Akronauts’ goal is to become the first college in Ohio to successfully make a liquid engine. This is a self-pressurizing bipropellant system utilizing nitrous and ethanol. Proof tests well above operating pressure and cold flow testing have been completed successfully. Hot fire testing is the next step, followed by vehicle integration.
“Liquid engines are something not many teams have attempted, and even fewer have integrated into a flight vehicle. We may be a small school, but we are on the leading edge of innovation,” said Mani Kannan, associate professor at the University of Akron, and faculty advisor of the Akronauts.
The team is also working to complete what is called a Space Shot, something only one other collegiate team has done successfully. Using a unique SRAD solid propellant, Angry Listerine, the Akronauts launched its first rocket, Emergence, and reached 14,000 feet. The second launch, this time with the Emergence II, took place in the Mojave Desert in March, and the rocket hit 22,000 feet. Emergence III is set to launch in December with a goal of 50,000 feet. The Akronauts will continue to scale up and prove concepts, with the intended end result of reaching the Kármán line – the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space – at 328,000 feet, Kannan said.
About The M. K. Morse Company
For 60 years, Morse has been manufacturing a wide range of innovative cutting solutions. Whether you need to drill holes, cut metal using power tools, or saw metal in a factory, Morse has the right blade for the job. As a second-generation family-owned business, we take pride in providing solutions for our customers. Our vision is to improve cutting solutions that transform ideas into reality. Available in more than 80 countries, nearly all Morse products are manufactured in Canton, OH, USA. For more information, visit mkmorse.com.