The Purdue Undergraduate Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (PURPL) is proud to announce the successful completion of its first hotfire campaign — a major milestone for the student-led propulsion team within just its first year of operation.

The campaign began with PURPL’s hydrogen/GOX torch igniter, designed with spark ignition to deliver reliable performance. Over the course of more than 80 tests, the igniter successfully fired every time, showcasing robust design and repeatable operation. This same igniter will be used to power PURPL’s 500 lbf “Maelstrom” engine in the fall.

The team then advanced to its largest article to date: the gas generator for a 5,000 lbf turbopump. Over nearly two weeks of testing — following a complete overhaul of the fluids system — PURPL members conducted 48 tests, throttling chamber pressures from 15% to 125%, exploring mixture ratios from 0.1 to 2.0, and operating across three different propellants. The campaign achieved a peak thrust of approximately 150 lbs, making it the team’s most powerful engine to date.

PURPL invites interested students to get involved in propulsion, combustion, fluids, electronics, machining, and systems engineering. The team’s work highlights Purdue’s tradition of innovation while offering undergraduates hands-on experience in aerospace research and development.

Learn more at https://purpl.space/.