Liquid Oxygen Tank

(Columbia Space Initiative ‘25-’26)

• Codesigned and manufactured a liquid oxygen tank for a hybrid rocket meant to compete in FarOut Competition with a 60k ft target. It will be the first-ever university LOX hybrid to reach such an altitude.

• Created custom tank endcaps, manufactured fully in-house. Coordinated with several other teams to organize part integration with 7 parallel projects (plus numerous sensors).

• Design passed CDR with industry individuals present. All parts were designed in Fusion and validated with FEA. '

• Manufacturing saw intensive use of an industry-grade mill and lathe (Haas Mini-Mill & ST-20Y), with individual operations reaching 3+ hours (total ~10 hours). All CAM work was done in Fusion.

• This semester, the tank is being put through rigorous testing, leading up to static-fire and launch. Hydrostatic testing has been completed, and cryogenic testing is now in progress.

More Images Below

Welded Ox Tank
Upper End Cap Machining
FEA Results
Bottom End Cap
Hydrostatic Testing
Frosty Tank.jpg