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Purdue University

Writer:
Emil Venere, (765) 494-4709, venere{at}purdue.edu

Sources:
William Anderson, (765) 496-2658, wanderso{at}ecn.purdue.edu
Stephen Heister, (765) 494-5126, heister{at}ecn.purdue.edu
Jay Gore, (765) 494-5340, gore{at}purdue.edu
Scott Meyer, (765) 496-6936, meyerse{at}ecn.purdue.edu
E. Dan Hirleman, (765) 494-5688, hirleman{at}purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews{at}purdue.edu

June 23, 2003

Renovated rocket lab at Purdue is 'national resource'

Part 2 of 2

Yet another factor that sets the Purdue lab apart from other
university facilities is that it was designed originally for rocket
testing. 

"Because most facilities were not built to do this kind of work, they
are landlocked on their campuses or limited in other ways," Meyer
said. "This lab was intentionally created to be remote from campus to
be able to do this kind of work."

Students are essential for the lab's operation because they perform
most of the work, gaining valuable experience in the process.

"The students not only have to fulfill their rigorous course work,
they also come out here and do real engineering," Meyer said. "They
do the lion's share of the work, running tubing and plumbing, doing
the wiring, programming the data-acquisition systems, hooking up
instrumentation, conducting the test operations."

Senior Kevin Miller of Goshen, Ind., said opportunities in the lab
influenced his decision to stay at Purdue for graduate studies.

"It's extraordinary to have such firsthand exposure to all phases of
a project," Miller said. "I chose to stay on for grad school because
I am extremely excited about the research that is being conducted
here, and I feel that working in this particular lab environment will
enable me to develop rapidly as an engineer." 

The first tests carried out in the refurbished lab were for Northrop
Grumman Space Technologies, which is developing rocket engines for a
new generation of space shuttles. Other work funded by NASA also will
focus on testing engines for future space shuttles.

"The high pressure lab has been an invaluable experience in terms of
hands-on, practical knowledge," said Adam Butt of Carmel, Ind., who
is studying for a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics.
"Most engineers in the field only work on one aspect of a system
design. Here we have the opportunity not only to design, but also to
build, test, analyze, and redesign. 

"It's an amazing and rare opportunity."

Related Web site:

* Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion Web site
   http://roger.ecn.purdue.edu/~propulsi/propulsion/

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