Sounding Rocket
Sounding rockets are a unique mission platform for providing truly excellent levels of microgravity, with very low residual acceleration (~10-5 g), for studying phenomena with a longer timescale (typically 6 minutes) than ground or airplane platforms. Physical science and biology science experiments can be conducted on board this platform. Experiments requiring reduced gravity levels (Moon, Mars, or others) can also be implemented.
ESA offers flight opportunities on Sounding Rockets, including all the related services, and the execution of the launch campaign tasks and activities.
Typical vehicles are:
- TEXUS : German rocket programmes at ESRANGE for DLR and ESA microgravity research programmes
- MASER: Swedish Space Corporation rocket programme at ESRANGE for ESA microgravity research programmes