Concept stage · Phase 0
FAQ
Short answers, only about what is settled. What is open, we call open.
What is Northspacelab?
A concept for a small, autonomous research rocket from Zurich. Today there is the idea, a first concept and this website. Nothing has been built yet.
The project at a glance →How tall is the rocket?
About 8 metres. Design, propulsion and mass are not final at the concept stage.
How high is it meant to fly?
The goal is the Kármán line at 100 kilometres altitude, where space begins by the common definition. This is a goal of the concept, not a promise.
Where is the rocket developed?
In Zurich. Where it will one day be built, tested or flown is still open.
When will it fly?
There is no date. We are in phase 0 (idea and concept). The first flight is phase 3 and comes only when everything works on the ground and the approvals are in place.
See the roadmap →Who is behind it?
A private project. Details of the responsible party are in the legal notice (Impressum).
To the legal notice →Is the project affiliated with a university?
No. Northspacelab is a private project. The authoritative details are in the legal notice (Impressum).
To the legal notice →What does autonomous mean?
After launch the rocket is meant to fly without remote control. Navigation, steering and control are meant to run on board in a closed loop.
What is the rocket meant to carry?
Research experiments. The concept has modules on three decks and a measuring head with optics under a two-part nose fairing. Which experiments is still open.
Does the rocket come back?
That is the intention: parachutes are meant to bring the rocket and its experiments back. Recovery is part of one of the four trades in the concept.
Design by trade →How is safety approached?
Flight corridor, geofence and exclusion zones are part of the design from the start. That is the intention at the concept stage, not yet a reviewed safety case.
Safety in the concept →Are there approvals yet?
No, that is still open. Which approvals are needed and who grants them is something we will clarify before any flight.
How can I get involved?
We are looking for people who build, research or support the project. You will find the areas and the application form under Careers.
To Careers →How do I stay informed?
The news page carries whatever there is to report, and you can sign up for email updates there. We only write when there is something new.
To News →Is there live data?
The mission control at app.northspacelab.com is meant for that. It stays empty until there is data.
Open mission control ↗What happens to my data?
How we handle data is described in the privacy policy; please read it there.
To the privacy policy →How can I reach you?
Through the contact form.
To the contact form →