Specialist Node > Powering Spacecraft

Our research team, led by Dr Saif Al Ghafri and Dr Arman Siahvashi, focusses on studying the ignition, combustion and explosion characteristics of propellants used in rocket engines under different environmental conditions. We also investigate improving the efficiency, reliability and safety of long duration storage of large quantities of cryogenic fluids used for space missions.

Long duration storage of large quantities of cryogenic fluids is essential for space missions, including orbit transfer vehicles, upper stages of rockets, and deep space exploratory missions.

We study the effect of thermal stratification and boil-off of rocket propellant tanks which is critically important due to the impact on tank pressure, structural weight and the accompanying pressurisation system weight. Boil-off is particularly important during atmospheric departure and re-entry, where frictional drag forces result in substantial heat entering the containment vessel, increasing vapour temperature and pressure.

Flames in microgravity (ESA)

The non-convective, low-gravity environment (microgravity) of spacecraft strongly influences the processes of combustion and consequently fire safety. This group looks at the fundamental ignition and combustion behaviour of solid materials in low gravity that may be relevant to spacecraft fire prevention and control. We will determine the effect of pressure, temperature and fuel composition on the ignition and heat release.

We also look at the possibilities of utilising Lunar in-situ resources to support NASA missions, instead of bringing everything from Earth. This can lead to significant reductions in launch and landing mass, crew health and mission risks, and life-cycle costs for human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.

Cryogenics Drop Tower

We focus on:

  • Propellant Boil-off: We are working with NASA to develop a specialized liquid hydrogen and LNG boil-off gas (BOG) model.
  • Cryogenic Solid Freeze-out and Dissolution Geology: With NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) we are investigating the weathering processes occurring on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan and several Jovian moons.
  • Lunar Propellant Production Plant: We are working with ETA Space to develop a Lunar Propellant Production Plant to produce cryogenic oxygen and hydrogen propellants from water harvested near the Lunar poles.
  • Propellant and propulsion: We aim to study the ignition, combustion and explosion characteristics of propellants used in rocket engines. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modelling will be used to assist the design of injector and combustion chamber.
  • Combustion and flame in space craft: We study fundamental ignition and combustion behavior of solid materials in low gravity that may be relevant to spacecraft fire prevention and control.
  • Microgravity experiments for science discovery: We are interested in the ignition process of solid and gaseous fuels, the radiative heat transfer in small-sized flames, soot formation mechanisms and bubble formation during water electrolysis. Experiments under microgravity without the effect of the gravity-induced buoyancy are necessary to validate such numerical models to obtain key transport and chemical reaction phenomena.
  • Life support in space: We are interested in the catalytic cracking of waste methane for H2 production to help close the loop of oxygen and water production using standard methods, such as those used on the International Space Station.

ISC Propulsion and Cryogenics Team


  • Saif Al Ghafri
  • Arman Siahvashi
  • Dongke Zhang
  • Eric May
  • Paul Stanwix

Partners and Collaborators


  • NASA (KSC and JPL)
  • ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization)
  • FEnEx CRC (Future Energy Export Cooperative Research Centre)
  • Samsung Heavy Industry
  • Imperial College London