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
Success Stories related to Sounding Rocket
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Did you know iron could burn? The combustion of iron powder seen here is taking place on an entirely smokeless, carbon free
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Metallurgy. We research. You Benefit.
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Metal Fuels. We research. You benefit.
Did you know that in microgravity we are preparing one of the most promising fuels for the future? Microgravity is helping to
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Fluid mixtures. We research. You benefit.
Did you know that in microgravity you can better study the behaviour of fluids’ mixtures when a thermal field is applied? Gravity
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Metal fuel for carbon-free energy on Earth… and the Moon
Everything burns. Given the right environment, all matter can burn by adding oxygen, but finding the right mix and generating enough heat
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