A group of 26 students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), which calls itself Project Caelus, successfully performed a “cold flow test” on September 13 in their efforts to launch a rocket to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. This test is performed by running cold air and water through their engine prototype to simulate flight conditions. The final launch is planned for the spring of 2023.
Several Project Caelus members perform a final systems check moments before the cold flow test
According to the Reston Connection, "The cold flow test comes after nearly three years of largely theoretical work, during which the group conceptualized, designed, and built the rocket’s engine from scratch. Ankit Khandelwal, a TJ senior from South Riding who serves as the Electronics Safety Officer for Project Caelus, said it was a joy to finally see the fruits of the group’s labor. "
As per Reston Connection, "The student group is divided into three primary teams. The propulsion team oversees issues related to the rocket’s engine, design, and manufacturing; the programming team oversees the ground software and response mechanisms built into the rocket; a third team takes care of outreach and finance. To finance the launch, the group ran an online, one-on-one tutoring program called “Caelus Computing,” in which members of Project Caelus taught computer science and math skills to younger students."
Maryam N. is a Senior Writer at Nesbitt Realty. She is an expert on Fairfax County. Maryam has also worked previously as a geologist. She is a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.
