fbpx

History

In order to fulfill the CanSat in Greece’s needs of launching CanSats at an altitude of 1 km a high power rocket is needed. In the first competition held in 2017 conventional amateur rockets were used. Due to the great interest of SPIN’s volunteers to get into the rocketry field and cost considerations Project Rocketry was born.

On October 2018 SPIN set a goal of acquiring the necessary know-how required for the development, testing and safe operation of High Power Rockets. Today the team continues its research and development on reusable CanSat launchers.

Mission

The mission is to develop a low cost fully reusable high power rocket that can safely deploy its four CanSat payload to an altitude of 1km. SPIN’s goal is for all components and necessary equipment needed for the construction, testing and operation of the launcher to be fully student research and developed.

The projects goal is to successfully launch CanSats for years to come, set the foundations for future projects and nurture a nationwide amateur rocketry community that will grow to become the bedrock of Greece’s Satellite Launcher Sector.

Subsystems

In order to fulfill the mission of the Rocketry Project in an way that is both efficient and reaches set milestones in a timely manner the project is compartmentalized in five major subsystems. 

Propulsion

The Propulsion Subsystem incorporates research and development focused on powering the rocket. Our current high power rocket uses a Solid Rocket Motor. This type of propellant utilizes fuel and oxidizer substances combined in solid form.

In order to research, build, test and fly this type of motor the following tasks are required:

  • Simulation & Verification of Propellant Characteristics
  • Simulation, Design & Manufacturing of Motor Casing
  • Manufacturing & Quality Assurance of Propellant Segments
  • Design, Manufacturing & Testing of Static Test System
  • Static Test Firing & Thrust Evaluation of Solid Rocket Motor
Structural & Aerodynamics

The Structure & Aerodynamics Subsystem incorporates research and development focused on the design of the structure of the rocket that includes the payload bay, the avionics bay, the motor mount, the fins and the nosecone.

In order to research, test and manufacture the structure of multiple rockets the following tasks are required:

  • Research & Static / Aerodynamic Simulations
  • Prototyping & Stress Testing
  • Assembly, Quality Assurance & Ejection Testing
  • Test Launches & Design Finalization
  • Manufacturing & Final Assembly
Avionics

The Avionics Subsystem incorporates research and development focused on live telemetry and payload ejection of the rocket. In order to fulfill the mission the rocket must deploy its payload at apogee. The avionics bay of the rocket has a number of sensors and transceivers in order to log flight parameters such as flight trajectory that facilitate diagnostics on the rockets’ operation. 

In order to research, prototype, test and manufacture the electronics of the avionics bay the following tasks are required:

  • Research & Derivation of Operation Requirements
  • Prototyping & Performance Testing
  • Test Launches & Design Finalization
  • Manufacturing, Final Assembly & Software Optimization
Recovery

The Recovery Subsystem incorporates the research and development required to safely recover the rocket after it has deployed its payload. The rocket uses a parachute or parasheet depending on weather conditions that deploys right after payload ejection and slows the rockets’ fuselage to speeds below 10m/s enabling a nominal touchdown.

In order to research, prototype, test and manufacture the recovery sybsystem the following tasks are required:

  • Research & Derivation of Operational Parameters
  • Prototyping & Wind Tunnel Testing
  • Test Launches & Design Finalization
  • Manufacturing & Final Assembly

Achievements

After 10 months of Project Rocketry operation SPIN was the first Greek non-profit organization to successfully research, develop and launch a fully reusable student researched and developed high power rocket at an altitude of 450m in August 2018.

Launches
3
Motors Static Tests
4
Rockets Built
2

Nothing we do here would be possible without the help of our sponsors! 

More Info

Follow us on Social Media to learn more about our work! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the project!