Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry

LinkedIn - Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry

Overview

The Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry – the first of its kind in the country – was established in 1964 at BIT Mesra to train scientists and engineers in Aerospace Engineering and Rocket Technologies. Since 1968, it has offered a postgraduate degree course (M.Tech.) with specialization in Aerodynamics and Rocket Propulsion. The Department aims to provide state-of-the-art education and training to support India’s national missions in space and defense.

Vision

To effectively integrate teaching, research, and innovation for significant contributions to national aerospace programmes.

Mission

  • Provide quality education and research training at the postgraduate and doctoral levels.
  • Establish modern infrastructure and foster innovation through sponsored research.
  • Encourage professional leadership and academic excellence.
  • Foster academia–industry collaboration and sustained interaction with research bodies.

Programme Educational Objectives

  • Build strong foundations for advanced research in Space Engineering and Rocket Science.
  • Enable graduates to address real-world problems in Space Technology.
  • Promote lifelong learning and professional development.
  • Encourage teamwork, ethics, and goal-oriented innovation.

Programme Outcomes

  • Ability to conduct independent R&D in Aerodynamics and Rocket Propulsion.
  • Competence in writing and presenting technical research.
  • Mastery in specialized aerospace topics beyond undergraduate level.
  • Skills to design experiments and interpret results using theory and simulations.
  • Commitment to ethics and professional responsibility.
  • Dedication to continuous learning amid evolving technologies.

Research Facilities

  • Advanced labs for Aerodynamics, Propellant Technology, Rocket Propulsion, and Combustion.
  • Static test setups with computer-controlled firing and data acquisition for solid, liquid, and hybrid rockets.
  • Full infrastructure for rocket motor fabrication and testing.
  • Specialized equipment like STA, TGA, DSC, rheometers, calorimeters, and more.
  • Four wind tunnels and CFD research capabilities using ANSYS and in-house code development.

Programs Offered

M.Tech. – 2-Year (Four Semester) Program

  • Aerospace Engineering with specialization in Aerodynamics (Intake: 12)
  • Aerospace Engineering with specialization in Rocket Propulsion (Intake: 12)

Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.)

The Department has developed robust infrastructure for doctoral and postdoctoral research. Funded projects are regularly carried out under national R&D grants.

Fields of Research (M.Tech & Ph.D.)

  • Experimental Aerodynamics: Low/High-speed flows, jets, acoustics, and enthalpy studies
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Rocket Propulsion
  • Propellant Technology and Combustion

Contact

Dr. Priyank Kumar
Associate Professor & Head
Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry
Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand – 835215
Email: hod.sr@bitmesra.ac.in
LinkedIn - Dr. Priyank Kumar