How DigiKey is Helping Halya Reach New Heights

2025-02-10 | By Yalu Ouyang

Movement Acceleration Environmental Air Pressure

How DigiKey is Helping Halya Reach New Heights: The Key Role of Precision Pressure Transducers

-- SEDS at UC San Diego

We are excited to express our appreciation to DigiKey for their generous sponsorship of our supersonic-sounding rocket project, Halya. Their support has been crucial in enabling us to push the boundaries of collegiate rocketry. A key part of this journey involves the integration of Pressure Transducers (PTS), which are indispensable to the success of our mission.

Pressure Transducers (PTS) are devices that measure the pressure of a fluid, providing precise data on the force exerted by the fluid on surfaces in contact with it. In rocketry, accurate pressure measurements are critical for a variety of applications, including flow control, airspeed measurement, system monitoring, and altitude determination. For Halya, PTS are not just useful—they are essential. Our rocket is designed to reach an altitude of 30,000 ft in the FAR MARS competition, a challenge that places extreme demands on every component of the rocket. Throughout the development process, PTS provides the high-resolution data necessary to ensure that our systems are functioning correctly under the rigorous conditions they will face during flight.

One of the most demanding aspects of developing a rocket like Halya is the need to test and validate the performance of its engine and propellant systems. During static fire tests, where the engine is fired while the rocket remains stationary, PTS are used to monitor the pressures within the propellant feed lines, combustion chamber, and other critical subsystems. These measurements are crucial for understanding how the engine performs under operational conditions. The precision of PTS allows us to detect even minute changes in pressure, which could indicate potential issues such as leaks, inefficiencies, or structural weaknesses. By analyzing this data, we can make informed decisions about design modifications, ensuring that the rocket’s engine operates at peak efficiency and safety.

Moreover, during the cold flow tests—where the propellant system is tested with a substitute fluid (such as liquid nitrogen) to simulate real operating conditions without ignition—PTS provides the necessary data to verify that the system can handle the extreme pressures and temperatures it will encounter during flight. This process is vital for validating that Halya’s cryogenic systems, particularly those involving the unique common bulkhead tank, are ready for the challenges of high-altitude supersonic flight.

As we approach the FAR MARS competition, the role of PTS in Halya’s development cannot be overstated. Halya’s mission profile includes reaching twice the speed of sound and enduring accelerations of up to 17 G’s, all within a brief 5-minute flight. These extreme conditions require not only robust engineering but also the ability to monitor and verify that all systems are performing as expected in real time. The pressure transducers’ ability to deliver reliable data at high altitudes and under intense forces makes them indispensable to our project. Their integration into our testing protocols has provided us with the confidence to push forward, knowing that we have the data needed to validate our design choices and make informed adjustments as we prepare to launch. DigiKey’s support has been instrumental in equipping our team with the essential tools required to meet the challenges of this competition. With their partnership, we are well-positioned to achieve our goal of being the first collegiate team to reach 30,000 ft with a liquid rocket and recover it successfully. We look forward to showcasing Halya’s capabilities and demonstrating the results of our hard work in the upcoming competition. Thank you, DigiKey, for your crucial role in this journey.

You can learn more about Halya and SEDS @ UCSD here.

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