POS. 01–14
From engine to tip
Shells on the outside, the inner workings along the axis. This shows what sits where and how the assemblies fit together.
An autonomous
research rocket from Zurich
About 8 metres tall, flying itself into space. Still at the very beginning.
Research into space. No giants.
A rocket does not have to be huge to take research into space. Ours is about eight metres tall, flies itself and is being built in Zurich.
Eight metres.
Taken apart.
Keep scrolling and the rocket breaks down into its assemblies. Grid 1 m, the person next to it is 1.8 m tall.
POS. 01–03
Payload
Under the two-part nose fairing sit the experiments: modules on three decks with a measuring head and optics above. The rocket flies for them.
POS. 04–06
Avionics and recovery
Flight computer, inertial sensors, navigation and power supply: this is where autonomy comes from. Above them lie the parachutes that bring everything back.
POS. 07–10
Tanks and pressure system
Oxidiser and fuel in separate tanks, with pressure tanks and regulators in between. The shell carries the loads and the name.
POS. 11–14
Propulsion
Thrust frame, combustion chamber with cooling channels and nozzle. Four fins keep the rocket stable on course.
Put back together.
Ready for the next stage.
Six goals. One flight.
Development goals for a small rocket that decides for itself.
- 01
Autonomous guidance
After launch the rocket flies without remote control. Navigation, steering and control run on board in a closed loop.
- 02
Eight metres
Small enough for a university project, big enough for real experiments. Compact also means: build, test and learn faster.
- 03
Research payload
The purpose of every flight: bring experiments where measurements from the ground are not possible.
- 04
Sensors on board
Inertial sensors, satellite navigation, air pressure and magnetic field are combined on board into a picture of the rocket's own state.
- 05
From Zurich
Developed in Zurich. From the first sketch to a rocket on the test stand: that is the goal.
- 06
Safety first
Flight corridor, geofence and exclusion zones are part of the design from the start, not an afterthought.
Beyond the Kármán line
At 100 kilometres altitude space begins by the common definition. That is where our rocket is meant to carry experiments and then bring them back by parachute.
- Troposphere
- 0–12 km
- Stratosphere
- 12–50 km
- Mesosphere
- 50–85 km
- Thermosphere
- from 85 km
- Kármán line
- 100 km
Where we stand
At the very beginning. Today there is the idea, a first concept and this website.
- Phase 0 · current
Idea and concept
Mission, requirements and a first overall design.
- Phase 1
Design and simulation
Playing through trajectory, structure and control on the computer.
- Phase 2
Ground tests
Build subsystems and test them individually before they come together.
- Phase 3
First flight
When everything works on the ground and the approvals are in place.
Will you build with us?
We are looking for people who build, research or support the project.