Ever since the TU Wien Space Team was founded back in 2011, it has been an annual tradition to build a new experimental rocket for the French space agency CNES and Planète Sciences in order to launch at their annual launch campaigns. STR-06 is the new installment of our successful rocket series. Ever since 2015 the design, creation, and launch of the new rockets has been entrusted to new team members in order to bestow the existing knowledge to newcomers.
Aim
This years rocket, while still housing trusted components from previous rockets, has a few new additions, one of which is the new recovery system. The old pyrotechnic free release mechanism was completely redesigned based on the system developed by Troy Prideaux. The pressure chamber was filled with liquid CO2 instead of pressurized air however, which reduces the size of the recovery system. For a two staged recovery, the chute release is realized with the chute release by Jolly Logic.
Constructing the Airframe
After the construction of the airframe at Peak Technology back in February 2016, the out of PLA 3D printed fincans were attached to the frame and reinforced using fibreglass. The nosecone was also 3D printed out of PLA and reinforced with fibreglass.
(Link to the news entry)
Maiden Voyage and Roll-out
For the first time in TU Wien Space Team’s history, the new rocket for the CNES event was ready already by May. This meant that STR-06 experienced its successful maiden voyage in Leipzig, Germany and was already rolled out at our Space Event later that month.
(Link to the news entries of Leipzig and of the Spacevevent)
Technological Requirement Evaluation in Paris
At the end of May, Sebastian Seisl and Andreas Bauernfeind travelled to Paris for the technological requirement evaluation for C’Space 2016. Here, STR-06’s ability to launch without problem was demonstrated using videos from the launch event just two weeks prior.
(Link to the news entry)
Finishing the Pyroless Recovery Mechanism
Despite passing the evaluation, project STR-06 wasn’t quite done yet. The new pyroless recovery mechanism had to be finished. After several weeks of hard work, dozens of tests, and several modifications three new systems were created just in time for the C’Space event. Two of the systems were installed in the rocket and the third acted as a backup in case one of the first two would be damaged during testing. Despite a few hiccups, the newly developed system proved to be reliable.
C’Space 2016
After a software update of the Flight Management System (FMS) and the construction of an improved electronics mount, there was seemingly nothing that could stand in the way of a successful launch in France. The final technological requirement evaluations at the event itself proved to be quite time consuming, however even these were passed after hard work.
Tuesday, the 26th July 2016 was the dreaded day. The team prepared the rocket for the launch and nervously checked the final checklist. The flight took place as planned and climbed to an altitude of 2830 meters. The new recovery system separated the rocket as planned and the drogue, and later the main parachute, brought the rocket back to earth at a controlled speed.
(News entries of the departure, day 1 and 2 and the final report)
Manching 2016
After C’Space it was clear that the next goal was going to be- the first supersonic flight and the first two staged flight. While the supersonic flight was not possible due to regulatory reasons, the first two-staged flight was fulfilled in Manching, Germany and celebrated with more members of the Space Team on site.
(Link to the news entry)
Supersonic flight 2016
But shortly after that, we found a launch site where it was possible to start STR06 with supersonic velocity.
(Link to the news entry)
Summary
Thanks to the many launches with different technological requirements, the TU Wien Space Team was able to gain a lot of experience from STR-06. “Watney” is one of our most successful projects and is a great foundation for next projects, such as “The Hound”. This is largely thanks to the always reliable electronics of all Space Team rockets.
Project members
- Andreas Bauernfeind (Project leader)
- Sebastian Seisl (Mechanics and electronics)
- Alexander Sebo (Mechanics)
- Stefan Schaffer (Mechanics)
- Markus R (Mechanics)
- Clara Fischer (Fresh team member)
A big thank you to the rest of the Space Team’s members for all of your help!
Susscessful flights
| Description | Overall length | Take-off mass | Motor | Max. altitude | Max. velocity | Max. acceleration | Recovery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leipzig 2016 | 162cm | 4000g | I300-AT | 451m | pyrotechnic charge, enginge ejection charge as backup | maiden voyage, FMS and Altimax redundant | ||
| C'Space 2016 | 162cm | 5700g | K570 | 2830m | 295 m/s | 30g (50g spike) | 2x pyroless recovery | FMS and Altimax redundant |
| Manching 2016 | 162cm | 2659g | H148R-AT | 230m | 65 m/s | 6g | pyrotechnic charge | FMS and Altimax redundant |
| Manching 2016 | 247cm | 6655g | I600-AT (booster) Klima D9 (sustainer) | 361m (booster 500m (sustainer) | 92 m/s | 15g | pyrotechnic charge (booster), 2x pyroless recovery (sustainer) | two-staged fligt, FMS and Altimax redundant |
| Supersonic 2016 | 162cm | 3776g | K1100-AT | 2237m | 391 m/s | 31g (100g spike) | FMS and Altimax redundant |