Bluebird Completes Cold Flow and Wet Dress Rehearsal
(Updated January 12th, 2026)
On December 12th 2025, Bluebird completed our first successful integrated cold flow, a major step towards static fire!
We brought the system up to flight pressures for the first time, reaching 750 psi (51 atm). We verified that all joints, sensors, structural elements and actuators can withstand flight conditions, a crucial validation of our design. Electronics, automatic control loops and data acquisition systems were all stress tested under conditions expected during the static fire. We were also able to collect invaluable flow data through our injector, which completed the information needed to calculate the coefficient of discharge for system orifices. Both Cd values were verified to be within acceptable ranges, within 15% of their respective design points.
On January 11th, 2026, Bluebird successfully completed our wet dress rehearsal, marking the last major milestone before our engine fires up.
The wet dress rehearsal is an even more comprehensive test compared to the prior cold flow, especially with respect to our procedures. We followed a strict countdown and timed the duration of each critical step, information used to later develop checklists and schedule tasks for the static fire.
With both ignition charges tested, all systems are now online. With the collected imagery we were finally able to confirm our injector atomization, the last significant unverified part of the system. We are now ready for ignition!
Go Bluebird!
As always, thanks to all the support given by the faculty, administration, and community of the Webb Schools!