We, the students and pupils of Riga Technical University (RTU) and RTU Engineering School, have built our second large-scale rocket. It’s technologically improved and demonstrated a successful flight, surpassing the altitude and speed of the first rocket. The flight took place at the Cesis airfield and reached an altitude of 1.9 kilometres and a speed of around 1000 kilometres per hour. Both parachutes deployed and had a successful landing. It’s important to note that the rocket can be reused. This flight is important because it allows us to test our knowledge and designs to ensure they are correct.

We have improved our knowledge of rocket building through guidance from excellent mentors such as rocket constructor Andrejs Pukitis and Latvian Space Industry Association President Pauls Irbins. The team has significantly improved the rocket’s construction, developed a complex parachute system, and made many other improvements. Our developed systems can be divided into non-material systems, including flight simulations, calculations, models, flight code, software, and material systems, including the rocket body, parachutes, flight computers, and several receivers, etc.

One of our team goals is to build a knowledge base. We have also strengthened our knowledge through courses at the European Space Agency, applying and successfully implementing the main principles of systems engineering. In the design, construction, and launch of the rocket, our team demonstrated professional competence that would allow us to participate in international-level competitions,” says the team’s chief engineer, Arvids Balins,  RTU Faculty student of Mechanical Engineering, Transport, and Aeronautics.