Students of the Samara University Will Carry Out a Test Launch of an Experimental New-Generation Rocket

Participants of the RocketLAV Student Design Bureau (SDB) of the Samara National Research University are completing the assembly of a new model of their experimental rocket – Capella-ML. All the works on the creation of the flight model and the launcher are to be completed by mid-March. 

Previous developments of the Samara University’s students have repeatedly received awards at prestigious competitions in Russia and abroad, including that of the French National Space Agency (CNES) ⁽¹⁾. And in 2019, the RocketLAV SDB was acknowledged as the best student design bureau in Russia ⁽²⁾.

The Capella project was named after the brightest star in the Auriga constellation. It will be a new-generation rocket with several modifications. The main feature of the new project is that it is a completely original development created by students practically from scratch, with minimal reliance on the experience of previous projects.

Capella’s predecessor, the TSR 3.0 rocket launched in France in 2019, was a two-stage rocket, which was able to reach an altitude of 1.5 km and had no payload. The single-stage Capella has a payload – it can be measuring equipment for completing research tasks. At the same time, the new model will be able to rise to an altitude of over 2 km. 

The model’s key feature is its modular design, which makes working on the rocket easier. There is also new electronic equipment being developed for the Capella: the developers plan to implement a clearer division of the electronic circuit into systems of power supply, telemetry and information collection, payload ejection, search and orientation.

An important innovation is the updated soft landing system for the spent stages, which ensures the reusability of the rocket.

The first launch of the new model is to take place this spring at the test site in Chapayevsk. Capella’s developers decided to time it to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the first manned flight into space. The Progress Rocket and Space Center is actively supporting the students’ initiative. The enterprise helped to organize the launch, and the specialists of the Progress RSC advise students on the preparation of the rocket, its systems, and the launcher.

At the same time, the RocketLAV designers are developing another modification of the rocket – Capella-M. It is intended to be launched as part of the C`Space international forum and competition of student teams for the launch of experimental rockets held in France. 

What is essential is that the two modifications of our rocket solve different tasks. The first Capella is intended for testing both new design ideas (for example, a two-stage parachute ejection) and production and technological solutions that create the infrastructure required for the implementation of future projects of the RocketLAV SDB, - says the head of the SDB Anton Poltoradnev. 

Naturally, many elements and design solutions of Capella-ML and its “French sister” are similar, but we use different engines in different modifications. As part of the launch, timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the first manned flight into space, we use Russian-made RDK-3000 engines. Capella-M will fly with the Canadian Pro75 provided by the organizers of the competition in France. Different engines affect the mass-centering characteristics of rockets, so the positioning of the internal compartments in the modifications is different.

We also took account of the experience gained while working on the Russian version of the rocket and made improvements to the design. This is why Capella-M will be more optimal from the perspective of ballistic characteristics.

Most importantly, we’ve realized from our own experience that some of the solutions that are necessary for a flight model are not always suitable for the following modifications. That rockets made for different missions cannot be completely interchangeable.

For reference

RocketLAV is a student design bureau of experimental rockets (SDB) under the Samara University whose members are engaged in the creation of light experimental rockets from composite materials.

The SDB of the Samara University has been a permanent and only Russian participant of the student forum for launching student rockets at the C`Space International Forum in France since 2011. Every year, this festival brings together several hundred young engineers from Europe, Asia, and South America who are passionate about designing small rocket technology and atmospheric probes. Samara students are the only representatives of Russia in this competition. 

(1) In 2018, young Samara engineers were awarded the first prize of CNES, the French National Space Agency, for the successful launch of a two-stage experimental rocket of their own design. 

(2) In November 2019, the RocketLAV team was recognized as the best student design bureau in Russia. And in December of the same year, a project by RocketLAV became a laureate of a French prize in the field of space and industry (Prix de Espace en Industrie-2019). 

Photo: Anar Movsumov