MELBOURNE – R&D testing of propulsion systems is a core business capability at NextAero. We know that the difference between a design on a screen and a functioning engine is the rigorous, often unforgiving, process of validation on the test stand.
Recently, we opened our facility to Monash University’s High Powered Rocketry (HPR) team for a static fire campaign of their “Solaris MkIII Mini” engine. This development hardware is a critical stepping stone for the team’s entry into prestigious international competitions, designed to validate regression rates of their unique hybrid fuel grains and test new nozzle ablative strategies.
See the test video here:
Bridging the Gap: From Theory to Test Stand
The transition from university coursework to industrial application is often a steep learning curve. By providing access to professional-grade testing infrastructure, supported by the Australian Space Agency, we enable student teams to bridge that gap before they even graduate.
NextAero CEO, Dr. Graham Bell, was on-site to oversee the operations:
“It is one thing to understand the theory of propulsion, but it is another to safely execute a hazardous test campaign under time pressure. The Monash HPR team didn’t just bring hardware; they brought a level of operational discipline and safety documentation that we typically see in professional engineering firms.
Hands-on experience like this is the single biggest differentiator for students entering the workforce. Employers in this sector aren’t just looking for good grades; they are looking for engineers who have worked on hardware, debugged machined assemblies, and worked in live energetic events. That is exactly what we saw here.”
Technical Rigour in Hybrid Propulsion
The Solaris MkIII Mini utilises a LOX-hybrid configuration. While hybrids offer safety advantages, achieving stable combustion and efficient oxidiser atomisation presents significant engineering challenges. The team tested a swirl injector configuration and validated the behaviour of complex fuel grain and ablative nozzle geometries.
Dr. Tom Knast, NextAero CTO, commented on the technical execution:
“LOX-hybrid combustion is non-trivial. Controlling the regression rate and ensuring combustion stability requires precise engineering, particularly with the injector assembly. I was impressed by the team’s technical depth, not just in the design of the swirl injector and the graphite/phenolic nozzle assemblies, but in their understanding of the data they were collecting.
To see this level of validation on a development engine, delivered during their university exam block, speaks volumes about the technical capability of the team.”
Strengthening the Victorian Aerospace Hub
This test campaign highlights a genuine strength of the Victorian space ecosystem. When you combine the grant support of the Australian Space Agency with the capabilities of local industry players like NextAero and the talent pool of top-tier institutions like Monash University, you create a powerful engine for innovation.
This collaboration proves that the region has the infrastructure and the talent pipeline required to support a sovereign launch and propulsion capability.
Congratulations to Monash HPR on a successful firing. We look forward to seeing the full-scale Solaris MkIII take flight.
A special acknowledgment to the Australian Space Agency for their ongoing support, which allows us to facilitate these essential industry-academia collaborations.
Learn more about the team here:
