SMART ROCKETS: DEVELOPMENT OF A 500 N LOX/ETHANOL-SOUNDING ROCKET FOR THE DLR STERN PROGRAMME

Embedded within the DLR STERN programme, the SMART Rockets Project is a student mission with the aim to develop and launch a 500 N ethanol / LOX driven sounding rocket. It is right now in an early phase B project status. The constructed test bench is a cornerstone for the whole project and hence described in detail. On this basis an overview of recent test activities is given with an emphasis on the development of a first injector model. In addition to the presentation of first measurement results an analysis of the combustion chamber parameters is depicted. The final launch is envisaged for late 2015.