Aeronautics and Astronautics · Purdue University
Yu-Kai Wang
I study how to assess launch-vehicle readiness when flight and test data are limited.
My research combines engineering assessments with test results to estimate mission success probability, show what remains uncertain, and identify where further work is needed.
From rocket development to launch safety
Before Purdue, I built rockets in Taiwan. At the Advanced Rocket Research Center, I led development of its first liquid rocket engine and served as lead propulsion engineer for a hybrid rocket engine. I was also safety lead and a propulsion engineer on HTTP-3A S2, the world’s first hybrid rocket with active guidance, navigation, and control. I later worked on national launch-vehicle and satellite programs at the Taiwan Space Agency.
I work to make launch vehicles safer and more reliable, so spaceflight can eventually become more routine. My research turns engineering assessments and test data into evidence that can guide design, testing, and launch decisions.