Ryan Pappano

Purdue Nuclear '26 rockets and things @MagnetarSpace | incoming propulsion engineer @ Stoke

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

The turbopump pumps! 17,000 RPM test with too low of purge pressure (wet turbine)

[Stoke Space @stoke_space]

Big tank. Big tests. Big milestone.

Nova Stage 1 proto-qualification is complete.
46 structural objectives verified, plus key fluid systems, avionics, software, ground systems, and ops demos. (More detail in our linked blog post.)

This is where new rockets often find the hard stuff; Nova (and the Stoke team) handled it. Our local partners at the @PORTOFMOSESLAKE , the Grant County Sheriff's Office and Public Works department, plus our vendor Norco made sure we had the support we needed every step of the way.

Ad Astra.✨

https://t.co/TFKfrM2n2B

[Stoke Space @stoke_space]

Testing is LIVE in Moses Lake, for both our Stage 1 structure and Zenith engines. Proud of the teams who are working relentlessly to drive us forward on the road to launch.🛣️🚀

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@RealLuigiDavid Pipe rocket engine = best rocket engine

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@Keroloxrp1 Awesome! Make sure to really focus on understanding fundamentals and never stop building. Projects and the rocket team helped me keep my sanity (in a way)

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

I have acquired the hardware (a degree in nuclear engineering)

[Purdue Nuclear Engineering @PurdueNuclear]

Congratulations graduating Nuclear Engineering students!

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@_chandlerl Thanks man!

[Stoke Space @stoke_space]

Sneak peek inside our Stage 1 tank, putting the finishing touches on our integration campaign.🤩 Next week, this flight article will ship to our test site in Moses Lake, WA for protoqualification testing. Enjoying the views at Kent while it lasts!

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@akhilshh Depends on confidence of design, resources, and project goal. I’ve seen campaigns test everything independently and then move to integrated tests, and also campaigns that go directly to integrated tests but slowly ramp up power. Up to you

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

The turbopump pumps! 17,000 RPM test with too low of purge pressure (wet turbine)

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@akhilshh Yes that’s the cavity drain.

Around 4.5 kilowatts or 25% power

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@ColeHalupnik Yes this is just the fuel pump, long term goal is a full engine

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@AStarryDawn Aiming for this summer at some point

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@AStarryDawn No, still just nitrogen. Stipulation of the spot I’m testing at was no combustion sadly

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@doctor_robotics Pretty much all python!

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

Biblically accurate DAQ doing DAQ things (finally)

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@_pointyendup Thank you!

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

Testing update!
Overall solid day with lots of good things and some not great things:

- DAQ and test stand functioning well
- pump hit speed record at 4000 rpm
- hit 100 psi of head rise for 2 seconds before seizing (FOD)
- pump is cleaned and ready for more testing this week!

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@_pointyendup Ultimate goal is to integrate it with an engine, but for now I just wanted to build a turbopump

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

@m_wal76 Good eye, the leading edge is not a machined wedge, the trailing edge is due to a machining error during a facing op that took off a bit too much material

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

First low pressure spin up!

[Ryan Pappano @ryanpappano]

Test stand and turbopump checkouts day!