Category: Highlights

Propulsion System CFD Analysis

To date (May 2014) the Stratos II propulsion team has had two static test campaigns of the DHX-200 Aurora at TNO. Both campaigns resulted in the motor rupturing the chamber and the test being stopped prematurely. This issue and the solution to it has been talked about in previous blog posts. What was not mentioned…
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Stratos II newsletter – March 2014

Dear readers. Here is, just before the end of the month, finally the new Stratos II newsletter. In this small, concise document you can read about the latest major developments of the Statos II project. This time: The engine tests and the launch site selection.

Propellant grain failure analysis

Over the past week, the propulsion team has been busy preparing for the last full-scale test. During the previous test, we encountered another burn trough of the chamber (see the previous story). Investigation of the chamber and grain afterwards suggested that the grain cracked during operation resulting in the flame reaching the wall.   The…
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Peekstok machining bulkheads for Stratos II

DARE is proud to announce the cooperation with Peekstok, a metal working company from the Rotterdam area. Peekstok will be producing several bulkheads for the Stratos II capsule module and the injector manifold for the hybrid engine.   Peekstok is a metal working company that specializes in the machining of parts for the shipbuilding and…
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Capsule Christmas Design Review

The last months the Stratos II capsule team spent a lot time in finishing the design of the Stratos II Capsule. Finally last Monday they presented the final design of to all other DARE members. The main purpose of the capsule is to provide a safe structure for the payloads and electronics and to bring…
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Analysing the last rocket engine tests

In the previous post you read on our website you will have been able to see that the last tests at the TNO laboratory a few weeks ago did not end so well for our hybrid rocket engine (article). Just like the last tests in May the combustion chamber failed a few seconds into the…
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The difficulties of rocket motor testing

Developing and building a rocket is never smooth sailing, as has been shown again. Last Wednesday the Stratos II propulsion team was ready for another test of the Aurora engine at the test facility at TNO. Unfortunately again, just like the previous test, the rocket motor combustion chamber ruptured a few seconds into the burn.…
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Ready for the full scale test

  In the dark rocket test tunnel at TNO in Rijswijk the biggest machine ever build by Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering has been erected to demonstrate its power in the full scale, full duration tests of the Stratos II rocket engine.   Already in May this year we were shown the first glimpses of what…
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A Delft Dynamics camera system on Stratos

Yesterday the Stratos II team and Delft Dynamics, a TU Delft spin-off company that produces small unmanned aerial vehicles, agreed on flying a small camera and video link on-board of the Stratos II rocket.   Delft Dynamics is a company that produces small unmanned aerial vehicles. They started off in 2006, founded by 4 engineers…
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Stratos II nominated for the Luchtvaartfonds

  The Stratos II team is pleased to announce that it has been nominated for the “Luchtvaart- en Ruimtevaart fonds” prize 2013!   As announced today by the Dutch “Luchtvaart- en Ruimtevaart fonds“ (Aeronautics and Astronautics fund), the Stratos II project has been nominated for their yearly prize to promote practical educational projects in the…
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