Innovative Propulsion Laboratory

Innovative Propulsion Laboratory (IPL) is a student association at IPSA focused on the design and testing of liquid-propellant rocket engines. Its members take projects from initial specifications and engineering design through simulations and hot-fire tests, using a test stand they design themselves. In collaboration with CNES and other partners, IPL combines theoretical study with practical experimentation to build members’ skills in space propulsion.

The association’s projects include Arrax, a 1 kN LOX/ethanol engine developed to deepen understanding of bipropellant propulsion, and Etherion, a larger, more powerful engine featuring integrated ignition and innovative injection systems. IPL is also developing Redwing, a 7.6 kN LOX/isopropanol engine designed to improve efficiency and use its fuel as a coolant. The project is intended for testing at the Race2Space competition and is described as the association’s most ambitious to date. Through these engineering projects, IPL provides students with hands-on experience while advancing its exploration of rocket propulsion.