Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering

20/06/2023

🔥 Ignition!

We are delighted to share a thrilling update on our latest engine test campaign, bringing us closer to our goal of launching a reusable liquid-propelled rocket.

Building upon the achievements of our previous test campaign, we have made significant advancements in the design of the injector. We prepared a new test campaign to validate its performance in a hot fire scenario. With exceptional teamwork 👏, we successfully performed two cold flows and two hot fires for our DLX-150A "Battleship" and DLX-150B "Firebolt" engines. It's important to recognize that testing engines, especially those utilizing LOx, entails inherent risks. However, our team followed meticulous safety procedures, preserving DARE's safety record. 🥽

This campaign provided us with invaluable insights, such as identifying areas for further optimization of our injector to maximize engine efficiency. 📈 Overall, we are happy to be one step closer to realizing our vision of a reusable liquid-propelled rocket.

We couldn’t test our engine without 981 Squadron Component Maintenance. Thank you so much!

Lastly, we have special footage of this hot fire, so go look on our youtube: https://youtu.be/EDU24SUL48Q! 🚀 🔥

09/06/2023

Improving our system thanks to ifm electronic!🛠️

Last week, the Stratos V team tested the Firebolt engine! Testing the engine is crucial to better understand and improve its performance. We would like to express our gratitude to ifm for their support during our latest engine hot fire campaign and over the last few years. They provided us with pressure sensors, specifically the PT5402 and PT5423 models, enabling us to measure pressures accurately throughout the entire system. 🔥🚀🔧

ifm's pressure sensors have proven to be highly reliable, demonstrating remarkable shock and vibration resistance. This exceptional durability makes them the perfect choice for our demanding rocket engine test environment. With a wide pressure measurement range of 0 to 100 bar, depending on the model, these sensors have been seamlessly integrated into various components of our system. As pressures fluctuate across different parts, these measurement ranges enable us to accurately capture pressure peaks at specific locations, aiding us in understanding our engine's performance. ⚙️📊

The invaluable support provided by ifm has been instrumental in our achievements, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation for their continued partnership. We anticipate utilizing ifm's high-quality pressure sensors in future tests and campaigns. With their commitment to excellence, we are confident that ifm will continue to be an essential collaborator in our pursuit of groundbreaking advancements in reusable rocket technology. 🤝🚀✨

08/06/2023

🌱 Monolith is propelling us towards a greener future! 🚀

Project Monolith is an initiative to promote sustainable technologies in rocketry. We're thrilled to announce the development of a zero-emission rocket engine that will revolutionize the industry. Our team is using HTP (Hydrogen Peroxide) and a nickel catalyst, eliminating the need for traditional igniters. What's the secret? This innovative combination produces water and oxygen as by-products, making it an eco-friendly propulsion solution! 💧

Building upon our recent success, Monolith Mk.1 engine completed its first successful hot-fire last August, marking a significant milestone for the future of green rocketry within DARE. 🌿

We greatly thank our research partner, SolvGE, for providing essential propellant supplies. Their technology includes a portable peroxide concentrator, ensuring safe storage, transportation, and on-site testing. With SolvGE's patented low-temperature process, we can concentrate hydrogen peroxide more safely, offering increased flexibility for our operations. 🤝

Our gratitude also extends to the Delft University of Technology Industrial Catalyst Lab for their invaluable assistance in selecting and producing catalysts for our project. 🤝

Looking ahead, the Monolith team is dedicated to enhancing the engine's performance, aiming to launch it on a rocket in May 2024. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of sustainable space exploration! 🌍

07/06/2023

Stratos V Has Safety First! 🚀 🧯

Testing plays a vital role in developing the Stratos V rocket, ensuring the improvement of all its systems. However, it is of utmost importance that these tests are conducted safely. At DARE, safety is crucial and taken seriously. This is why over the past 22 years, DARE has successfully carried out numerous projects among our team members without significant accidents. 🥽

Project Sparrow introduced new challenges with our cryogenic bipropellant engine as we worked with various new liquids and gases. With Stratos V, these challenges persist. Mishandling these substances can result in significant hazards. Stratos V will be tested and propelled, amongst other things, with Liquid Oxygen (LOX), Liquid Nitrogen (LN2). LOX and LN2 are stored at cryogenic temperatures close to -200°C. These low temperatures can render objects very brittle and pose a significant risk of severe injuries if handled carelessly. Moreover, if proper measures are not taken, LOX can react violently with many materials, even with metals.❄️💥

🤝 We are excited to announce extending our partnership with Nippon Gases Belgium and Nippon Gases Netherlands. Nippon Gases supplies us with the majority of our propellants, including liquid oxygen (LOx), liquid nitrogen (LN2), nitrogen gas (N2), and carbon dioxide (CO2), and this year, we have also added helium to our inventory. These propellants and gases are essential components for the successful operation of our rocket. 🔧

Recognising the criticality of safety, we engage in annual training sessions conducted by Nippon Gases. These sessions ensure that our team members are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle these substances safely and efficiently. 📖 🦺

🚀 With our commitment to safety and our partner, Nippon Gases' support, we strive to push the boundaries of rocket technology while maintaining the highest safety standards. Our dedication to safety ensures our team's well-being and contributes to Stratos V's success.

27/05/2023

🚀 Join Stratos V External Relations and Venture Reusable Rocketry! 🌟

Stratos V, our flagship project, is expanding its External Relations department, and we're looking for enthusiastic students! As the project enters the manufacturing phase, our External Relations team will play an even more role in the project's development. We are even more ready to showcase our progress to the world! 💥

Are you passionate about shaping the future of reusable space flight? Then join our team! We have different positions available, with weekly commitments varying from 8 to 15 hours*:
🌟 External Relations Manager: Lead the department and unlock its full potential.
🌟 PR & Marketing Manager: Make diverse posts and design banners, merchandise and more.
🌟 Events Organizers: Burn our presence brighter through events.
🌟 Partnerships Managers: Identifying, acquiring, and maintaining partnerships to secure funding, resources, and expertise to fuel the fires of Stratos V.
🌟 Graphical Designers: Transform our designs into renders and 3D models to display in videos, the website and more.

Ready to clear the launch tower? Visit our website (link in bio) to apply for a specific role or explore a combination of these incredible opportunities. Don't miss the deadline—submit your application before 23:59 Friday, 2 June 2023! 🌍

🤔 If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via DM or email us at [email protected].



*Interested in becoming a full-time member? Please DM us or email [email protected] to inquire about the possibilities!

23/05/2023

Join these teams in Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE)! 🚀

Curious about the incredible teams you can be a part of? Check it out!
🤔 If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message!

📩 Apply now by visiting our website (dare.tudelft.nl/about/joinus) and submit your application before Friday, June 2nd!
Let's embark on a stellar journey together! ✨

21/05/2023

Join Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE)! 🚀

Interested in gaining hands-on experience in a team with advanced technologies? Waiting to fuel your passion for rocketry? Or just looking for an amazing experience in a team? Look no further, because multiple DARE teams are recruiting part-time members*! 🎉

📩 Apply by visiting dare.tudelft.nl/about/joinus and submit your application before 23:59 on Friday, 2 June 2023!

🤔 If you still have any questions, feel free to send us a DM or email [email protected]!

Let's reach for the stars together! ✨



*interested in becoming a full-time member? Send us a DM or email [email protected] and ask us about the possibilities!

17/05/2023

Jam-packed first Launchday of 2023! Part 2 🚀🔥

We had a successful first Launchday of 2023 at ASK 't Harde, where we launched multiple rockets and tested multiple engines. The event was a huge success, with three static tests of solid rocket motors and five rockets launched in total.

In addition to testing motors and launching the WALRUS project, we helped another student rocketry team from the Netherlands. We supported with their rocket, named 'Finkers-2', which was launched and successfully recovered.

The main event of this Launchday was CanSat. Two Cansat launchers were launched, deploying student-built Cansats at 1 km. And finally, PIP III tested a ringsail parachute with active reefing, providing valuable data for future improvements.

We're excited about the progress we've made and can't wait to see what's next!


Credits:
Photography: DigiDaan
https://www.digidaan.net/

13/05/2023

Jam-packed first Launchday of 2023! Part 1 🚀🔥

We had a successful first Launchday of 2023 at ASK 't Harde, where we launched multiple rockets and tested multiple engines. The event was a huge success, with three static tests of solid rocket motors and five rockets launched in total.

Our Solid Propulsion team tested their 'Intermediate Rocket Motor' (IRM) twice, validating it for future DARE missions, and the 'Sustainer Reborn' (DSX-12) successfully fired, resulting in a lot of useful data for the next iteration.

WALRUS, a personal project that tested a Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) type parachute for recovery, launched successfully, but was unfortunately not successfully recovered.

We're excited about the progress we've made and can't wait to see what's next! Keep an eye out for part 2 next week with more news and amazing images!


Credits:
Photography: DigiDaan
https://www.digidaan.net/

10/05/2023

Successful cold-flow test from Stratos V! 💦

In February, Stratos V did a cold-flow campaign to validate our pintle mass flow and sizing tool, calibrate our venturi for accurate mass flow data and test a new capacitive level sensor. We performed 5 cold flows with water for each of the four different pintles. We also did 5 cold flows with ethanol for one pintle, measuring the amount expelled in 5 seconds.

Our current pintle injector had higher than expected mass flow, so we tested several pintle diameters to design a new pintle with our target mass flow and OF ratio of 1.49. This will make our engine more efficient, wasting less ethanol.

Using the gathered data, have designed and will test the new pintle injector in the near future. We'll also make changes to the capacitive fill level sensor and test it again, and manufacture a second venturi for the LOx side to calibrate it too.

Stay tuned for more updates on our engine development! 🚀💫

02/05/2023

A little over a month ago, we had our first launchday of the year. During the March 2023 launchday, DARE teams conducted three static tests of solid rocket motors and launched five rockets in total:

IRM: The 'Intermediate Rocket Motor' made by the Solid propulsion team was successfully tested twice, thus validating it for future DARE missions.

DSX-12: The 'Sustainer Reborn' motor is based on the Stratos Sustainer, which powered the second stage of Stratos I.

Finkers-2: Made by Space Society Twente, this rocket was successfully launched and recovered.

WALRUS: A personal project using a Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) type parachute for recovery. Unfortunately, this rocket was not successfully recovered.

CanSat: DARE is the launch provider for the high school Cansat competition. Two Cansat launchers were launched, which deployed the student-built Cansats at 1 km.

PIP III: This rocket tested a ringsail parachute with active reefing.

Watch on our YouTube via:

During the March 2023 launchday, DARE conducted three static tests of solid rocket motors and launched five rockets in total:IRM: The 'Intermediate Rocket Mo...

29/03/2023

Tomorrow marks the start of our first Launchday of the year! The event will take place over two days on Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of March. On the eve of the event, we'd like to highlight all of the rockets we will launch as well as all the motors we will test.

CanSat: The main activity for this Launchday is the two CSLv7 launches for the Dutch CanSat competition. DARE is the launch provider for the high school competition in collaboration with NEMO Science Museum, Netherlands Space Office and ESERO Netherlands. We will launch the 10 best CanSats from the competition to an altitude of 1km!

PIP III: This rocket was designed as a test platform for parachutes at high dynamic pressures. Using a 3D printed clamp band separation system and a pyrotechnic mortar system to deploy the test chute, this rocket will test a ringsail parachute using an active reefing system.

DSX-12: One of the two rocket motors in test this launchday, the DSX-12 'Sustainer Reborn' motor is based on a historic motor within DARE, the Stratos Sustainer, which powered the second stage of Stratos I.

IRM: The other rocket motor in test this launchday, we will be performing two static tests of the 'Intermediate Rocket Motor' (IRM) made by the Solid propulsion team. As it is one of the newer engines in DARE, data from these static fires will be used to validate this engine for use as one of the standard rocket engines for DARE projects.

WALRUS: Project WALRUS is a personal project that aims to validate the Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) type parachute in DARE. The rocket will fly two DGBs, a small drogue parachute and a large main parachute. WALRUS also has a camera which footage will be used to compare the performance of the DGB against wind tunnel testing.

Finkers-2: This rocket by our friends at Space Society Twente attempted to launch with DARE last September but unfortunately experienced a hangfire. This modular rocket aims to test all its systems in preparation for integration with airbrakes for active apogee control.

If you want to see all of our launches and static fires unfold, make sure to keep an eye on our stories over on Instagram where we will be posting updates throughout the next two days!