Mira 2
Mira 2 is Oregon's most powerful liquid rocket engine, developed by the OSU HALE team.
Engine Development
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.
Technical Specifications
- Sea Level Thrust: 1600 lbf (7.10 kN)
- Sea Level Specific Impulse: 213s
- Chamber Pressure: 350 psi (24.1 bar)
- Mixture Ratio: 2.31
- Burn Duration: 9.8 seconds
- Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 85.8
- Nozzle Expansion Ratio: 4.34
- Propellant: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) / RP-1 Kerosene
Testing Program
Hotfire 1
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 saw minimal wear, showing significant improvements from Mira 1.
Hotfire 2
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, featuring enhanced sensor data collection and valve improvements.
- Integration of the new flight nozzle for more flight-representative performance.
- Refined standard operating procedures to streamline testing and improve safety.
Mira 2 produced 1681 pounds of thrust and validated the flight nozzle and its performance.
Mira 1 to Mira 2
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.
Key upgrades include enhanced cooling capacity, improved injector performance, increased thrust output, 4x decrease in weight, and manufacturing refinements that improve reliability and reduced production time.
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.