Aerospace Propulsion Engineer

Fueling rockets from the ground up

Rocket Propulsion Engineer with hands-on experience in liquid, solid, and hybrid rocket propulsion systems—from design, performance calculations, and combustion analysis to system integration and hot-fire testing. Currently contributing to the development of a 25 kN semi-cryogenic engine for orbital launch vehicles.

3+
Years Experience
5.5kN
Bipropellant LRE
10kft
Sounding Rocket
View Experience Get in Touch
Prashant Kumar Modak
About

Engineer at the edge of combustion

Aerospace engineer specialising in propulsion systems, with hands-on experience spanning solid motors, bipropellant liquid engines, and hybrid systems. My work sits at the intersection of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and precision manufacturing.

From characterising composite propellants to leading 5.5 kN thrust chamber development at Kalpana Chawla Space Research Center, each project has deepened my conviction that reliable propulsion is the foundation of everything that leaves the ground.

Experience
Jan 2025 — Oct 2025
Propulsion Engineer
SpaceFields Pvt. Ltd.
  • Designed, developed, and tested advanced solid propulsion systems for aerospace and defense applications.
  • Evaluated ballistic performance of composite propellants before large-scale grain manufacturing.
  • Oversaw combustion chamber design for high efficiency and enhanced spray characteristics.
  • Designed air inlet systems with centrifugal and axial compressors for altitude-optimised combustion.
  • Managed P&ID design for propulsion system integration and reliability.
Mar 2024 — Jan 2025
Lead Propulsion Engineer
Kalpana Chawla Space Research Center
  • Led development of a 5.5 kN bipropellant liquid rocket engine using a Rectangular Double Slit Pintle Injector.
  • Spearheaded design calculations, integration, and assembly under rigorous technical and safety standards.
  • Designed and tested a high-efficiency torch ignitor using GOX and hydrocarbon fuel at 5 MPa conditions.
  • Oversaw engine test bed development and coordinated with cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones.
Feb 2023 — Mar 2024
Team & Propulsion Lead
Triton Rocketry — Spaceport America Cup
  • Led a multidisciplinary team for a Spaceport America Cup 2024 mission: a sounding rocket targeting 10,000 ft apogee.
  • Owned propulsion and payload mechanical systems; proficient in NASA CEA, RPA, and OpenRocket.
  • Directed in-house design and additive manufacturing of rocket components.
  • Engineered an experimental payload with a sophisticated acoustic isolation system.
Feb 2024 — Jan 2025
Student Secretary
Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, Chandigarh University
  • Represented students and co-ordinated departmental events, workshops, and competitions.
  • Served as liaison between students and faculty, facilitating departmental initiatives.
Technical Proficiency
🚀
Propulsion Systems
LOX/RP-1 Hybrid Propulsion Bipropellant LRE FFSCC Solid Motors Pintle Injectors Thrust Chamber Design Cryogenics Combustion Analysis
💻
Design & Simulation
SOLIDWORKS Fusion 360 ANSYS CFD ANSYS FEA NASA CEA RPA MATLAB OpenRocket
🔧
Manufacturing & Test
Additive Manufacturing P&ID Design Test Bed Development Engine Static Tests Instrumentation Data Acquisition
📋
Engineering & Docs
Technical Drawings Test Planning System Integration Safety Compliance Project Documentation
Key Projects
Liquid Propulsion · Kalpana Chawla Space Research Center
5.5 kN Bipropellant Liquid Rocket Engine
Led end-to-end development of a bipropellant LRE using ethanol and nitrous oxide, featuring a Rectangular Double Slit Pintle Injector. Designed and hot-fire tested a GOX/hydrocarbon torch ignitor at 5 MPa. Full engine test bed was developed and commissioned to validate performance and reliability.
5.5 kN rated thrust · pintle injector · 5 MPa torch ignitor
Sounding Rocket · Triton Rocketry
Spaceport America Cup 2024 Mission
Team & Propulsion Lead for a competition sounding rocket targeting 10,000 ft apogee. Designed propulsion and payload systems, directed additive manufacturing of components, and integrated an acoustic isolation payload.
10,000 ft target apogee · competition selected
Design Competition · AIAA
Mars Ascent Vehicle — AIAA Space System Design
Led university team in the AIAA Space System Design Competition, achieving 12th place globally. Design was based on NASA 2040 Strategic Cycle constraints for a Dual Lander Mars Ascent Vehicle.
12th global ranking · NASA 2040 constraints
High-Speed VTOL · AIAA Student Design
40th Annual Student Design Competition
Led propulsion design for a high-speed VTOL aircraft achieving 5,000 lb payload capacity. Implemented FOD protection and outwash mitigation systems while meeting stringent performance criteria.
5,000 lb payload capacity · VTOL propulsion
Education
Bachelor of Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
Fluid Dynamics · Aero-Thermodynamics · Aircraft Propulsion · Rocket Propulsion · Gas Dynamics · Mechanics of Solids · Combustion Theory · Heat & Mass Transfer · Turbomachinery · Orbital Mechanics
Graduated
June 2025
Research & Publications
01 Numerical Modelling of Shape-Controlled Flow Stability and Pressure Recovery in Supersonic Scramjet Isolator Submitted
02 Development of a Transient One-Dimensional Two-Phase Flow Solver for Cryogenic LOX/LCH4 Feed Systems SubmittedAIAA Journal of Propulsion & Power
03 A Non-Equilibrium Flashing Model for Methane Injection During Engine Startup SubmittedAIAA Journal of Propulsion & Power
04 Mathematical Prediction of Cavitation Inception and Pressure Oscillations in LOX Injectors SubmittedAIAA Journal of Propulsion & Power
05 Coupled Feed-System and Injector Dynamics for Startup Stability SubmittedAIAA Journal of Propulsion & Power
06 Design and Characterization of a Double Rectangular Slit Pintle Injector (DSRTPI) for N2O/Ethanol Liquid Rocket Engine Pending
07 Design and Development of a Bipropellant Liquid Rocket Engine Using Nitrous Oxide and Ethanol with a Novel Double Slit Rectangular Pintle Injector Pending
Contact

Let's build something that flies

Open to propulsion engineering roles, research collaborations, and aerospace projects pushing the boundary of what's possible. Based in Nepal — available globally.

prashantmodakkp11@gmail.com
📞 +977 9845681497 🔗 LinkedIn 🌐 prashantmodak.com.np