Vega Propulsion Lab (VPL) is an aerospace-focused lab dedicated to designing, building, and testing engineering systems and technologies related to flight, propulsion, control, and space applications.

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VPL exists to turn ambitious aerospace ideas into working systems through disciplined engineering, rapid iteration, and real-world testing. We work across hardware, software, controls, and integrated test environments to develop technologies that are not only designed well, but proven under meaningful conditions.

  • We develop engineering systems with an emphasis on function, integration, and performance.

  • We turn concepts into working prototypes through hands-on development across hardware and software.

  • We validate systems through structured experimentation, field testing, and iterative refinement.

Focus Areas

  • A young boy wearing a green face mask and white shirt with a green tie, holding a small robot with wires and electronic components. Two men are standing nearby, watching him, with one holding a red object. They are outdoors on a grassy area.

    Flight systems and avionics

    Flight computers, sensors, telemetry, power systems, onboard data logging, and embedded electronics that support vehicle operation.

  • People standing and sitting on a grassy field next to a running track at a school or sports facility, with modern buildings in the background and a clear sky above.

    Guidance, navigation, and control

    Vehicle modeling, state estimation, sensor fusion, control logic, and closed-loop stabilization for dynamic flight systems.

  • Three individuals assembling a tall metallic structure on a grassy field during daytime, with trees and a running track in the background, all wearing face masks.

    Test infrastructure and engineering tools

    Validation workflows, data acquisition setups, support electronics, and internal tools that make testing more repeatable and measurable.

  • A small rocket launching on a flat, open field at night, with sparks and flame coming out of the top.

    Propulsion systems

    Ground test setups, instrumentation, performance evaluation, and system integration for propulsion-related hardware.

  • Comparison of rocket trajectories with different propulsion values. Two 3D plots display optimal and rocket trajectories in each case, labeled Case 1 and Case 2. The plots show trajectories aiming towards a target point labeled 'Rocket Frame' and 'TVC Frame'. Metrics at the bottom indicate high trajectory accuracy and remaining fuel for both cases.

    Aerospace software and simulation

    Flight simulation, mission software, telemetry interfaces, operator dashboards, and post-test analysis tools.

  • A rocket with the NVIDIA and Edith logos is launching into the sky, with flames coming from its engine.

    Robotics and Autonomous Systems

    Systems that combine sensing, actuation, onboard computation, and control in dynamic environments.

Our Alumni & Experience

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Logo of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, featuring a stylized emblem with a sun over a book and a trophy, with university name in Chinese and English.
Rutgers University logo with a red shield featuring a crown and a sunburst, and the word 'RUTGERS' in red capital letters beneath.
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Dare to venture beyond.

VPL was built on the belief that aerospace progress comes from people willing to move beyond theory and into execution. Our work is shaped by a practical engineering mindset: build carefully, test honestly, learn quickly, and keep improving.

A group of students, wearing school uniforms and face masks, working together on a model rocket outdoors on a school field with trees, track, and soccer goal in the background.
Group of students, wearing masks, gathered around a small rocket-like object outdoors, working on it with tools and a tablet, with a school building in the background.
Three students, two kneeling and one standing, work together on a small model rocket on a track field during daytime. All are wearing masks and caps, with the students in white shirts and one in a black tie. A camera on a tripod is nearby.