Sub-teams & Leadership | ARES Rocketry

Aerostructures

Team Leads: Jules Seng, Alexandra Margiolis, Ennis Wong

The Aerostructures team designs and manufactures the rocket's airframe and internal structural components. The team combines aerodynamic analysis and mechanical design to develop and produce critical parts such as the nose cone, boat tail, and bulkheads. This involves tasks ranging from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to Structural Simulation and hands-on Manufacturing.

Past projects include the simulation of air brakes at various extensions to determine their drag profile, the development of retractable rail guides, and a resin-infused fiberglass recovery parachute compartment.

Core Responsibilities

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Optimising aerodynamic surfaces for stability and drag reduction, alongside flow visualisation and modelling the rocket’s drag curve
Airframe Development: Using CAD and simulation tools to iterate the overall rocket design to align with competition parameters
Internal Components: Liaising with other sub-teams to understand structural requirements, complete CAD modelling, and conduct Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to validate strengths
Research and Development Projects: Investigating ways to advance Aerostructures design and manufacturing capabilities, such as improving CFD modelling techniques and developing new composite manufacturing methods
Manufacturing: Fabricating parts using composite techniques such as resin infusion, and CNC processes to build the competition rocket

Team members collaborate closely and gain exposure to all skills throughout the full lifecycle of design, validation, and production. From CFD simulations to composite manufacturing, Aerostructures works across a range of mechanical engineering disciplines and fundamentals.

Propulsion

Team Leads: Brooke Doolan, Steven Wang

The Propulsion team is responsible for the end-to-end design, development and testing of student-built rocket engines. This includes everything from subscale hardware to full-scale hybrid systems ready for flight integration. Previously, the team developed a sub-scale test stand, Data Acquisition (DAQ) & Control cabinet, and fluid system. The current focus is on hot fire testing and building the first ARES full-scale hybrid rocket engine for integration into a launch vehicle by the end of 2026.

Core Responsibilities

Full-scale Test Stand Development: Design, manufacture and assemble static fire infrastructure and support equipment
DAQ & Control: Integration of sensors, actuators, safety mechanisms and real-time control software for test operations
Fuel Grain Manufacturing: Spin-casting paraffin wax-based fuels and experimenting with additives to improve performance
Fluid Systems: Designing, building and testing high-pressure liquid & gas systems with safe operation
Combustion Chamber Design: Thermo-fluid analysis and simulation of chamber and nozzle performance
Modelling & Simulation: Development of analytical and computational models to predict engine behaviour and guide design decisions

Avionics

Team Lead: Joshua Vaughan
Sub Leads: Lachlan Power, Auriella Fisher, Nicholas Cotugno Morrison

The Avionics team develops and integrates electronic systems for both the rocket and its ground support equipment. At the core of these systems is the ARES Compute Platform, a fully interconnected system spanning hardware design, embedded software, ICT infrastructure, and web development. The team is currently developing a 2nd generation in-house flight computer with complimenting web platform for real time control, and flight data visualisation.

Core Responsibilities

Rocket Avionics: Develop and program embedded avionics systems, including telemetry, radio communications, active aero controllers, data logging, and power management systems.
Ground Station: Integrate ground support equipment and ICT infrastructure with rocket avionics, and DSLR camera.
Data: Develop a Web interface for real time control, and flight data visualisation tools, and develop existing airbrake control systems.

Recovery

Team Leads: Caroline Berg, Jeet Bhandari

The Recovery team aims to achieve the safe descent and retrieval of the rocket, from altitudes up to 30,000 feet. Currently, the team has developed a single-separation, dual-deployment scheme featuring a CO2 separation system, with a 3-ring release mechanism, and line cutters for precision ejection of the parachutes.

Currently, the team is focusing heavily on designing and researching an improved recovery system. The new system will build on the existing foundation, concentrating on creating reliable and mechanically sound infrastructure for future rockets. Furthermore, we’re constantly improving our ability to manufacture components such as deployment bags, with a focus on creating in-house parachutes.

Core Responsibilities

Mechanical System Design: CAD creation of systems such as line cutters, CO2 ejection parts, and other flight-critical recovery components
Hands-on Fabrication: Sewing and creation of parachute and deployment assemblies
Results Synthesis: MATLAB scripting and data analysis
Real-World Applications: Continual hands-on testing and field deployment of recovery system

Payload

Team Lead: Charlton Hammond

The Payload team develops an experimental scientific payload that rides on the competition rocket, investigating technologies relevant to space applications.

Previous payloads have included an award-winning investigation into the effects of high acceleration flight on bacteria using Raman spectroscopy, and creating a surgical robotic arm that can perform high-precision surgery under high acceleration flight using a quad-arm control mechanism.

Core Responsibilities

Electronic Design: PCB development for sensor integration and power management utilising Altium
Mechanical and Structural Design: Using CAD software to design, prototype, and analyse the payload
Manufacturing and Testing: Including metal work, soldering and 3D printing
Software Design: Writing code to communicate with and control the various sensors and actuators, perform data processing, and wireless communication

Operations & Logistics

Team Lead: Amelia Liu

The Operations & Logistics sub-team drives the strategic coordination and operational execution of the team's initiatives. This sub-team ensures that ARES operates efficiently, fosters external partnerships that are essential to the construction of the rocket, and effectively communicates the team's endeavours and knowledge to relevant stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement: Securing and maintaining sponsorships with new and existing partners
Logistics Organisation: Planning logistics for travel and competition entry
Internal Collaboration: Liaising with the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology
Merchandising: Designing and producing team merchandise
Videography and Marketing: Managing social media, filming, editing videos, and creating promotional materials