In the framework of the project EXPLORE (EXPeriment for Liquid On-orbit REfueling) students, including many from the University of Stuttgart, are researching the refuelling technology of rockets in space, supported by space experts. These „orbit refuelling stations“ are an important prerequisite for future manned space missions. From the concept to the ready to fly module, the student experiment has undergone a breathtaking development . On 20 th February EXPLORE is to set off to the borders of space from Swedish Kiruna in the direction of the research rocket REXUS 9.
In recent months the experiment has been optimised and assembled on numerous
evenings and weekends, the critical system tests have been successfully completed. Vibration tests
were carried out at Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) (German Aerospace Centre) in
Stuttgart and Bremen, the thermal-vacuum test was performed at Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme
(Institute of Space Systems) at the University of Stuttgart. A service simulator test at DLR in
Oberpfaffenhofen and the integration week at DLR in Bremen confirmed the operational capability of
EXPLORE. After the integration of the experiment module, it finally left in January via
Oberpfaffenhofen and Stockholm on its journey to its starting place in Kiruna.
The entire EXPLORE team (together with other student teams) will also be setting
off for Kiruna on 14
th February. All experiments will be assembled there once again in the first week and
extensively tested in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly. This includes a renewed test
with the service module of the rockets and several test countdowns in which the teams and the
experts from the rocket base go through all procedures for take-off in detail and activate the
experiments just like in a real flight.
If these tests go satisfactorily, the rocket will be assembled and transported to
the launching pad. The planned launch date of the REXUS 9 rocket is 20
th February, expected time around 6 pm. The countdown starts around 3 hours beforehand.
Students and scientists will be sitting excitedly in front of their computer, which receives the
rocket’s signals and follows the launch in front of the windows of the Esrange Space Centers. If
everything goes according to plan, the experiments will be secured on the very same day so that the
hardware as well as the recorded data can be analysed. „We are hoping for fantastic, impressive
video images of the flight“, enthused Jürgen Schlutz from the EXPLORE team, who did his doctorate
at Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik (Institute for Aerospace Technology) at the University
of Stuttgart.
Further information at
info@explore-rexus.de or by telephone:
Emil
Nathanson Tel. 0177 / 5471003
Johannes
Weppler Tel. 0176 / 20119952
Robert
Schelling Tel. 0179 / 9690405
Jürgen Schlutz Tel.
0179 / 7903379