ARIS prepares rocket launch

(CONNECT) Students from five Swiss universities work on projects at ARIS in Dübendorf. They come from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the University of Zurich (UZH), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), OST - Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences andArts (HSLU). Some of them are working on sounding rockets such as Hermes, as detailed in a press release from the ZHAW. Hermes is to take part in the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), which will take place between October 9 and 15 in Constância, Portugal. Some of those involved are now providing information on the current state of affairs in an article.

Accordingly, the drive will use both ethanol and liquid oxygen. According to the ZHAW press release, ARIS would be the first European student team to develop a sounding rocket with such an ethanol-oxygen mixture. Carbon parts for the rocket itself are manufactured by the students in Dübendorf, while other components are produced by partners. And finally, the algorithm required for take-off and landing has also been developed and refined by the students over the past four years.

The rocket is reusable, so precise landing is a crucial aspect. Between take-off and landing, the rocket is to fly at a speed of 1400 kilometers per hour to an altitude of 9 kilometers and then land at a specified location. The students have already succeeded in doing this several times during the test flights, as shown in their article. ce/jh