Within the Space Propulsion research group, my work focuses on "Green Space Propulsion," designing innovative propulsion systems for miniaturized platforms like CubeSats, with the aim of expanding and supporting future space exploration missions.

I primarily deal with the development and thermo-fluid dynamic investigation of 10N-class hybrid rocket engines powered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an excellent, ecological, and safe alternative to traditional toxic propellants like hydrazine. Through advanced numerical CFD simulations, validated by experimental tests, I study the internal ballistics and combustion between H2O2 and solid polymers such as ABS and HDPE.

As part of our research group's activities for Spoke 1, this synergistic work has allowed us to derive specific regression laws for HDPE, demonstrating how the large recirculation zones inside the combustion chamber increase the convective heat flux, resulting in optimal fuel regression rates. In parallel, the team's investigations extend to electric propulsion and aerodynamics for Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO). Through DSMC simulations (SPARTA, DS2V/DS3V), we optimize air intakes for air-breathing engines—where parabolic geometries have proven to be the most efficient for gas collection, and we study the aerodynamic behavior of devices for aerobraking and planetary atmospheric entry.

Click here to view my poster.