The team's rocket reached an altitude of 64 kilometers. (Image Credit: HyEnD / University of Stuttgart)
On April 18th, the Hybrid Engine Development (HyEnD) team at the University of Stuttgart launched and set an altitude record for its student-built hybrid rocket. Their ambitions haven't stopped there — the team's next goal is to launch another hybrid rocket from the Estrange launch site near Sweden, Kiruna, during the weekend. Sixty students developed the 7.80 meters long and 70kg rocket, which took three years to complete. "It's one of the most powerful and advanced student-built hybrid rockets in the world," says Max Öchsle, HyEnD project manager.
"The first countdown and the launch were very successful. We were also able to recover the rocket successfully and bring it back to the launch site. However, there were problems with the main chute during landing, which meant that the landing speed was higher than expected," says Julian Dobusch, head of propulsion development. The student team's rocket flew over 64 km high, surpassing their 2016 record of 32 kilometers.
(Image Credit: HyEnD / University of Stuttgart)
The students hope the second hybrid rocket reaches 100 km high, crossing the boundary into space with its upcoming launch. This also means the altitude target could be a new world record for student-built hybrid rockets. The University of Southern California holds the current record at 103.6 km. "The world record is within our reach. We could indeed beat it," says Öchsle.
The students have two similar rockets, one of which is a backup at the launch site in case something malfunctions during preparations. The first flight of an untested rocket has launch angle and flight altitude restrictions in place.
The N2ORTH rocket features a hybrid engine using solid fuel and liquid nitrous oxide. It's also almost entirely made out of composite materials. "We are particularly proud of the engine which we developed ourselves. With a thrust of up to 1.5 t, it is one of the most powerful and efficient student-made engines in the world. Another special feature is the parachute, which must be able to withstand supersonic speeds. Because there are no commercial parachutes available for these requirements, we made it ourselves," says Öchsle.
The rocket's exterior gets hit with extreme temperatures due to the high flight speeds. So the team laminated the structural parts with a high-temperature epoxy system. In addition, the rocket comes with a thermal protection cork layer.
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