Author: Prajakta P Nandanwar

Prajakta P Nandanwar

Short Bio

Prajakta P Nandanwar is a space engineering researcher and propulsion specialist currently pursuing her M.Tech in Space Engineering and Rocketry at Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra. She earned her B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from Alliance University in 2025, building a strong academic and practical foundation in high-speed aerodynamics and space launch technologies. Prajakta's technical expertise is backed by hands-on research, including a specialized internship at the Defense Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), DRDO. During her tenure at DIAT, she worked on missile technology dynamics, control system modeling using MATLAB Simulink, and 3 DoF hover system simulations. Her published research focuses on advanced rocket propellants and high-energy materials, highlighting the strategic role of energetic additives in space mission performance. As an author for ENTECH Magazine, she has written an article "Boron and Its Applications in Rocket Propulsion: A Short Review." Prajakta translates complex propellant chemistry, missile dynamics, and rocket propulsion engineering into accessible, educational content for young scientists and space enthusiasts.

Extended Bio

Prajakta P Nandanwar is fascinated by what it takes to leave Earth — the fuels, the forces, the control systems, and the engineering discipline required to send machines and people beyond the atmosphere. She is a space engineering researcher and propulsion specialist currently pursuing her M.Tech in Space Engineering and Rocketry at Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, one of India's leading engineering institutions.She earned her B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from Alliance University in 2025, where she developed a strong foundation in high-speed aerodynamics, space launch technologies, and the physics of flight. But her education has always extended beyond the classroom. She has sought out hands-on research experiences that connect theory to practice, and her work at the Defense Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), a premier DRDO institution, was a defining chapter.At DIAT, she worked on missile technology dynamics — the complex physics and engineering of guided projectiles. She modeled control systems using MATLAB Simulink, simulating how missiles respond to commands and disturbances. She worked on 3 Degrees of Freedom (DoF) hover system simulations, understanding the dynamics of systems that must maintain position and orientation with precision. This work gave her deep insight into the control challenges that are central to both missile technology and space launch systems.Her published research focuses on advanced rocket propellants and high-energy materials, with a particular emphasis on the role of energetic additives in enhancing space mission performance. As an author for ENTECH Magazine, she published "Boron and Its Applications in Rocket Propulsion: A Short Review," which explores how boron — a material with exceptional energy density — can be used to create more powerful and efficient propulsion systems. The article exemplifies her ability to take complex topics in propellant chemistry and make them accessible to a broader audience.Prajakta writes for the aerospace engineering student exploring propulsion, the young scientist curious about high-energy materials, the space enthusiast who wants to understand the technology behind launch vehicles, and anyone interested in the engineering challenges of reaching space.

Primary Beats

• Rocket Propulsion & Propellant Chemistry: The fundamentals of rocket propulsion — solid, liquid, and hybrid systems; the chemistry of propellants and energetic materials; how additives like boron enhance propulsion performance; the trade-offs between energy density, stability, and manufacturability in propellant design.
• High-Energy Materials & Energetic Additives for Space Propulsion: The science of high-energy materials and their role in rocket motors; boron-based propellants — advantages, challenges, and applications; how energetic additives improve specific impulse and combustion efficiency; the future of propellant formulation for next-generation launch systems.
• Missile Dynamics, Control Systems & Simulation (MATLAB Simulink): The dynamics of guided missiles and launch vehicles; control system modeling and simulation for aerospace applications; 3 DoF and 6 DoF simulations; how control theory applies to both defense and space technologies.
• Space Launch Technologies & Aerospace Engineering Education: The engineering disciplines that make space access possible — aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and controls; the educational pathway to a career in space engineering; hands-on research and internship experiences in aerospace; building the next generation of space scientists and engineers through accessible education.