The Cetus Flight Vehicle
Oregon State University's liquid bi-propellant system, designed, integrated, and validated entirely by undergraduate researchers. Powered by the liquid engine, Mira 2.
Cetus is Oregon's first kerolox rocket, designed and built by the Oregon State University HALE team. Named after the great whale constellation, Cetus represents years of research, testing, and engineering innovation dedicated to advancing collegiate liquid rocketry.
Standing 21 feet tall, Cetus is powered by a liquid oxygen and Jet-A propulsion system engineered entirely in-house by HALE students. The vehicle serves as a milestone for the team's technical growth, demonstrating capabilities in propulsion, structures, avionics, and systems integration while pushing the boundaries of student-led aerospace development at Oregon State.
Vehicle Specifications
| Height | 21.5 ft / 6.55 m |
| Outer Diameter | 8.235 in / 210 mm |
| Dry Mass Configuration | 300 lb / 136 kg |
| Propellant Loading Mass | 75 lb / 34 kg |
| Pressurant | Helium |
System Infrastructure
Propulsion
Cetus is powered by the Mira 2 engine. Tested for repeatable, reliable, and efficient performance.
Avionics
Custom telemetry boards tracking high-frequency pressure, temperature, and telemetry readings.
Recovery
Dual-stage parachute deployment optimized for reliability and performance through through all stages of decent.
Airframe
Thin-walled carbon composite skin matched with aluminum interior bulkheads to isolate flight stresses.
Fluids
Optimized fluid system with custom cryogenic ball valves and components for reliable operations.
Ground Support
Automated launch pad sequencing to handle remote propellant filling and launch.
Cetus Static Fire 1
Conducted on May 10, 2026, the HALE launch team succesfully completed a static fire of the Cetus launch vehicle. Validating full system performance and engine performance improvements from an improved injector design. This test successfully validated autonomous launch countdown handshakes, liquid oxygen tank chill and fill operations, engine ignition and efficiency, and performance of a full onboard suite of custom avionics hardware.
The Mira 2 Rocket Engine
HALE's second-generation liquid engine optimized for efficiency, weight, and flight performance.
Cetus is powered by our liquid engine Mira 2. The Mira program has been in development for over 7 years with the first hotfire test of Mira 2 conducted in December 2024. Since then, development to the engine has steadily improved its thrust, Specific Impulse, and thrust-to-weight ratio.
Engine Operational Specs
| Design Sea Level Thrust | 1,800 lbf / 8.0 kN |
| Measured Thrust | 1,730 lbf / 7.70 kN |
| Chamber Target Pressure | 350 psi / 24.1 bar |
| Specific Impulse Target | 285 s (design) |
| Target Burn Duration | 10.0 seconds |
Engine Hotfire Testing
Static Fire 01
On December 16th, the HALE team successfully conducted a static fire test of the Mira 2 engine. This initial test validated the engine's design, hitting perfect chamber pressure. The LOx valve closed slow leading to an Ox rich shutdown transient, responsible for the sparks seen at the end of the burn. The engine and pintle injector saw minimal wear, showing significant improvements from Mira 1.
Static Fire 02
On February 28th, the HALE team successfully conducted the second static fire test of the Mira 2 engine. Following the first static fire of Mira 2 in December, the team implemented several key improvements in preparation for this attempt. Major updates include: test stand upgrades, enhanced sensor data collection, valve improvements, integration of the new flight nozzle for more flight-representative performance, and refined standard operating procedures to streamline testing and improve safety. Mira 2 produced 1681 pounds of thrust, succesfully validating the flight nozzle and engine performance.
Engine Lineage
Mira 1
The original Mira 1 engine served as HALE's introduction into liquid rocket propulsion. While successful, it revealed areas for improvement that drove the development of Mira 2.
Mira 2
Built from the knowlege gained with Mira 1, Mira 2 is built with a 4× reduction in weight, with improved thermal capabilities and injector performance. Manufacturing refinements improve reliability and production times.
Future Development
As the knowledge and experience of the HALE team grows, so do the possibilities. HALE's next-generation engine will feature key advancements that significantly improve performance and efficiency. The new design will incorporate a regenerative cooling system, allowing for better thermal management and longer engine life. Coupled with advanced materials for greater durability and reduced weight, this propulsion system will not only increase HALE's capability to reach space but also pave the way for more cost-effective launches in the future.