Student rocket launched in the third edition of the Fly a Rocket! programme.

The Fly a Rocket! programme is operate by the ESA Training Place of work in partnership with Andøya Place Education and the Norwegian Space Company. It combines theoretical training course operate carried out on-line, with a fingers-on start marketing campaign of a sounding rocket and enhances the students’ educational training with practical information.

The connect with for purposes for the 3rd cycle of the Fly a Rocket! programme took position final summer. Out of a large variety of applications, 30 inspired pupils were being chosen into the programme, 24 of which took element in the start campaign. Prior to the campaign, they all participated in an intense on the internet program wherever they realized about rocketry, orbital dynamics, atmospheric physics and fundamentals of rocket trajectory simulations.

With the COVID crisis shutting down most of the planet, also the Fly a Rocket! launch marketing campaign experienced to be postponed. But the pupils did not sit idle. As an alternative, the on line program was prolonged with extra coursework, where the students further detailed their trajectory simulations.

In Oct, the lengthy-awaited launch campaign could lastly commence at Andøya Place. Through the marketing campaign the budding rocketeers attended a number of lectures explaining the working day-to-day operate at a rocket array and arming them with the abilities to construct and start their very own rocket. Extra lectures were provided by ESA and Andøya Area Education and learning to tell and inspire the learners about their foreseeable future chances linked to space and room training.

Most of the students’ time during the campaign was dedicated to palms-on rocket operate, where by they organized their rocket for flight. They were being supported by industry experts from Andøya Area, who gladly shared their expertise and practical experience.

Through the palms-on work, the college students were divided into three unique functioning sections. The “Payload” and “Sensors” sections executed the bulk of the sensor and payload assembly and screening, though the 3rd “Telemetry” part established up and tested the telemetry station to be certain information would be gained from the rocket during flight.

On Thursday, 14th October 2021, the preparations were being concluded, and the rocket was all set to be released. For the duration of the countdown the students performed usual operational obligations associated in a rocket start. A university student took the role of Array Handle, getting responsible to coordinate all the countdown functions. Other contributors have been stationed at the telemetry station and the “blockhouse” and were dependable for ensuring the payload was armed and prepared for flight and that the facts was been acquired correctly.

Just after a several short delays through the countdown, the rocket was introduced at 15:57 local time and achieved an altitude of close to 8km just before splashing down securely a handful of kilometres off the coastline.

But the rocket launch is not the conclusion of the students’ participation in the Fly a Rocket! programme. They will carry on their collaboration to analyse the facts obtained throughout the flight and create a final report to comprise it and all the get the job done they have accomplished.