When Mark Grollo - an aerospace engineer and pilot by trade – decided to create Grollo Aerospace, his passion for space technology research and development became a reality. Two years on, the business is making great progress on its space technology projects.

Located in Thornbury Victoria, the company is focused on developing hardware to test stage, with the purpose of gaining a deeper understanding of space technology.

“As an engineer, my passion for aerospace has allowed me to journey into the exciting world of space technology,” said Mr Grollo. “We currently have a number of projects being undertaken in the research and development stage.”

These projects include:

Propulsion System Test Cell

“We developed a self contained propulsion system test cell in a box trailer. We thought it would be a good idea to have the ability to test the parameters of small rocket and jet engines safely. Being mobile, allows us to set up our test in the lab, and then move to a secure location for the test,” said Mr Grollo.
The test cell specifications are:

• Test engine thrust up to 5000LB
• Reactant delivery pressure variable up to 500psi
• Repetitive test engine stop and start capability
• Multiple sensory for measurement of engine thrust, pressures, temperatures and flow rates

MLG500 Rocket Engine

“One of our first projects was a small liquid fuelled rocket engine. This was an interesting project not only because the design and development involved many different disciplines, i.e. gas dynamics, chemistry, structural design, hydraulics, pneumatics, plumbing, cryogenics, to name a few,” says Mr Grollo. “Many small companies located around Melbourne were involved in this project, which specialised in these disciplines, required a period of evolution. They all needed to learn and adapt their techniques to suit the requirements of this technology being investigated, and I was able to be involved in that process which was a great learning experience.”
The liquid rocket engines spec is as follows:

• Liquid fuelled regenerative cooled rocket engine
• Fuel – Lox and Jet-A1 (Kerosene)
• Thrust – 500LB
• Specific impulse – 25O sec
• Injection – impinging unlike doubtlets
• Coolant – Jet-A1

MLG500 Rocket Engine Test

“Design and building the rocket engine was one thing, but testing the rocket engine in the test cell was a whole new ball game for us. Operating the rocket engine introduced us to many new and interesting problems that had to be overcome. A rocket engine is not a stand alone unit, it requires a sophisticated and intricate subsystem consisting of tanks, valves regulators, etc. which needed to evolve through a process of small subsystem tests and safety considerations,” says Mr Grollo.

“After test firing, the measurements are taken and used for further study and analysis. We compare the measurements with our calculations which allow us to understand how the engine is performing and create the next test,” he said.

Air breathing propulsion system

“We are currently working on an air-breathing engine for a small high speed aerospace vehicle. The purpose is to advance and refine air breathing propulsion technology, as they are more efficient and environmentally friendly than rocket engines, and therefore should play an ever increasing role in aerospace transport,” said Mr Grollo.

Mr Grollo said that the company’s biggest strength comes from being able to micro manage projects. “As a small company, there are times when certain aspects of the project need to be out sourced by companies who specialise in certain areas. The ability to effectively manage these external resources allows us to achieve superior results while keeping project costs down.”

As a small to medium enterprise (SME), Mr Grollo believes the work undertaken by companies such as his is crucial for the ongoing research and development for the Australian Defence Force. “With the rapid change in today’s technology it is difficult to keep pace with who is at the fore front. SMEs often specialise in a niche market and this specialised expertise can be taken advantage of to achieve significant cost savings and providing leading edge technology,” says Mr Grollo.

“Our goal for the future is to see Grollo Aerospace play a prominent role with the ongoing advancement of aerospace technologies,” says Mr Grollo.

For more information visit www.grolloaerospace.com.au email info@grolloaerospace.com.au or phone (03) 9416 9999.