Horus Dalcour

Horus Dalcour

Biography

Horus Dalcour is an Aerospace Engineering student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a passion for developing technologies that advance both space exploration and underserved communities. Originally from the South Side of Chicago, he is a first-generation college student whose experiences have fueled his commitment to using engineering as a tool for meaningful impact. His research interests span from aerospace systems, energy technologies, quantum physics, computational modeling, and advanced materials. As a MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) participant, Horus is expanding his experience through collaborative research while strengthening his technical and analytical skills. Beyond the laboratory, he currently serves as his chapter’s Programs Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where he develops professional and academic initiatives that support student success. Horus plans to pursue a Ph.D. in order to lead innovative research that bridges engineering, scientific discovery, and community impact through sustainable technologies and global collaboration.

Coupled Simulation of a Centrifugal Casting System for Preflight
Design Validation
Horus Dalcour¹, Scott Dorrington², Cecilia Marsicovetere Fanjul², Danielle Wood²
¹Department of Aerospace Engineering, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
²Program in Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Beeswax has demonstrated significant potential as a renewable solid fuel for hybrid rocket propulsion due to its biodegradability, high regression rate and combustion performance. However, the behavior of molten beeswax during microgravity operation remains difficult to predict, limiting the ability to optimize centrifugal casting systems before flight. This research addresses this challenge through the development of a multiphysics digital twin capable of predicting the mechanical, thermal, and fluid behavior of a motor-driven centrifugal casting experiment in a microgravity environment. The completed framework combines electromechanical modeling, transient thermal analysis, and control system simulation to evaluate motor dynamics, power consumption, heat transfer, and beeswax phase change under representative operating conditions. The mechanical model was validated against experimental motor data, demonstrating less than 2% error, while the thermal model successfully predicts transient temperature distribution and melting behavior throughout the casting system. Together, these models provide a computational platform for evaluating system performance and reducing the need for costly flight-based design iterations. The next phase of this research will integrate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate molten beeswax flow, free-surface evolution, and material redistribution, enabling prediction of casting uniformity and supporting the development of reliable microgravity manufacturing technologies.