PHERB - Portable Hotfire Engine for Rocketry Basics

Rocket propulsion is one of the most captivating and inspiring fields for the future of engineering. However, both rocket enthusiasts and the general public alike often perceive it as a domain reserved only for the genius minds of each generation. PHERB seeks to challenge this perception and bridge the gap between hopes, aspirations, and accessibility. PHERB is a portable, compact, and visually exposed rocket engine and fluid system designed to introduce and educate high school students. Designed to fit inside a Pelican Case, rocketry will no longer be something students have to search for; instead, it will become an accessible and engaging opportunity, ready to be brought to schools and inspire the curious minds of today’s youth. PHERB builds upon a completed research project from a Fall 2024 Cornerstone group that aimed to create a compact, mobile demonstrator to engage K-12 students in the principles of propulsion. This project will feature a fully functional miniature rocket engine that uses compressed natural gas and gaseous oxygen as propellants and a heat sink combustion chamber. A core component of PHERB is its ability to not just display all of its hardware, but to actually demonstrate how it all works. With the malleability of the system, operators will be able to alter key rocket propulsion parameters to educate how each affects the performance of the engine. Students may not only gain a deeper understanding of the science behind propulsion but also develop an appreciation for the possibilities within engineering. In doing so, PHERB can inspire the next generation of engineers and strengthen Embry-Riddle’s reputation as a leader in STEM education and engagement.