Rocketry and space travel is, in general, an extremely unsustainable process. Wasteful construction processes are followed by the use of extremely toxic and polluting chemicals in the rocket engines themselves.

The Student Space Systems Liquid Rocket Engine Project is a student-led effort to design, construct, and launch a more sustainable approach to suborbital space travel. The pilot test of their liquid rocket engine will use a waste-free 3D-printed rocket combined with a clean-burning, liquid methane engine.

Going beyond its direct carbon impact, there is a strong educational value to this proposal as well. Hundreds of engineering students work on or are exposed to the work of Student Space Systems, and this project showcases sustainable design principles in an area often not reached.

This proposal directly funds:
1. Cost for 3D printed manufacture of the test rocket
2. Supplies and equipment for construction and testing of the liquid rocket engine