Design, Build & Test Rocket Engines with This Revolutionary Simulator
Meco Rocket Simulator is a gamified engineering tool that allows you to simulate rocket engines hands-on. You can design engine cooling, injectors, nozzles, and more. We verify Meco’s accuracy with data from real-life rocket engines.
We adopted an open-source pledge to sustain development and collaborate with the community. Read on!
Kickstarter Funded!
Blazingly Fast Complete Engine Simulation
The simulated Vulcain rocket engine node graph features valves and regenerative cooling and runs in real-time on current-generation PCs.
The Rocket Engine Simulator for Interactive Design
Say goodbye to pages of endless numbers and equations because you’ll see the outcome of your design choices in seconds.
Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly is the way.
It’s a fun way to learn—perfect for next-gen engineers and scientists who want to have fun while learning to be trailblazers in our multi-planetary future.
On The Shoulders of Giants
Say goodbye to pages of endless numbers and equations because you’ll see the outcome of your design choices in seconds.
Play campaigns with missions based on real-life events. For example, build and simulate rocket engines to:
- Embark on a journey of enlightenment as you learn how the USA developed the Redstone-Mercury rocket engine, a pivotal moment in space exploration history.
- Experience the progression of SpaceX’s improvements to Merlin Engines, particularly from Falcon 1 to Falcon 9 full-thrust.
- Immerse yourself in the historical significance of the Saturn V moon rocket and participate in developing its engines. Despite the technology available at the time, this feat was exceptionally reliable.
- Discover how Europa I/II Rocket engine development enabled Europe’s first orbit-capable Launch Vehicle.
Detailed Fluid and Combustion Simulation
Meco’s detailed simulation allows you to model complex liquid rocket engine phenomena like:
- Gas and liquids flow in lines and ducts, which are affected by pressure and friction.
- Ignition, throttle and shutdown sequences following value valve timings.
- Thrust chamber and nozzle temperatures following regenerative, film and ablative cooling.
- Gas generator, expander, and other engine cycles result in pros and cons.
- Rocket Nozzle gas exit velocity and flow separation change when the shape of the nozzle is changed.
- Lastly, get the expected engine thrust, efficiency, and ISP readings to evaluate your design.
Comprehensive Engine Building Options
Meco has features to build a rocket engine model for first approximation simulation.
- Find out how making parts from different materials affects engine limits.
- Test fuel, oxidizer and coolant combinations and, consequently, their trade-offs.
- Try different igniter and valve types and their advantages and disadvantages.
- Design injectors, pumps, turbines, gearboxes, thrust chambers and nozzles while challenged by physical constraints.
Rocket Nozzle Simulated
True-to-Life Rocket Engine Simulation Software
Meco has been validated against real-life engine operational data and matches them within a few percentage points. Hence, be assured that Meco will give you realistic performance numbers.
- Change your design to get the desired pressure, temperature and flow rate readings.
- Tweak combustion properties, which change correspondingly with oxidizer-fuel ratio and pressure.
- Find out safety margins when there are thermal and load stresses on parts.
- Test performance at different atmospheric Pressures.
- Replay and zoom in to a particular spot in time when you need more data.
Examples To Build on Included in This Sim
Get into simulation quickly – pre-built and ready-to-sim engines include:
- Rocketdyne F-1, which powered the Saturn V
- SpaceX Merlin 1D employed on the Falcon 9
- Vulcain by Snecma Moteurs found on the Arianespace Ariane 5
- RL-10A used by ULA Centaur made initially by Pratt & Whitney
Why an Accessible Rocket Engine Simulator?
Learn to Design Rocket Engines Step-By-Step
For child prodigies, senior enthusiasts and everyone in between
Start with cold-gas thrusters or dive into Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines (LPRE). Meco is on your side in your quest to learn rocket science.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
While Meco can handle the dozens of subsystems required to simulate a rocket engine, we can tinker with each subsystem individually and then combine them when we are ready.
Embrace Your Inner Rocket Scientist
Master and build intuition
See how engineering and scientific laws come together and build a complete understanding of the part they play.
Do or do not. There is no try
Overcome the challenges and feel accomplished. There are reasons why rocket science has a reputation for not being easy, but you are in good company.
Don't Miss Out
Learn Rocket Science
Here are some books I love to get you started on your rocket journey. Maybe one day you will build a rocket with your own hands.
Fundamentals
Ignition!: An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants
Rocket Propulsion Elements
Modern Engineering for Design of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines
Fundamental Concepts of Liquid-Propellant Rocket Engines (Springer Aerospace Technology)
Inspiration
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
Rocketdyne: Powering Humans into Space (AIAA Education)
NASA Space Shuttle Main Engine Design Features
Design, Construction, Testing, and Flight of a Liquid Propellant Rocket
Amateur Rocketry
Modern High-Power Rocketry 2
Estes Tandem-X Launch Set (Amazon and Crossfire ISX) Orange, 30 inches
Rocket Engine Simulation
Gas Turbines: Internal Flow Systems Modeling (Cambridge Aerospace Series, Series Number 44)
Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program, Version 5.0 Educational: Supplemental Information for NASA//TM-2011-21647
Get the Simulation and Start Building
Come Hang Out
