A sounding rocket as a test bench for cost effective measurements: Development of a sounding rocket demonstrator test bench for aerospace technologies and atmospheric measurements

The Nimbus Project team, made of young engineers and university students, has developed a sounding rocket with the main aim to engineer a reusable, cost-effective test bench. This makes it possible to field test many aerospace technologies as guidance or reentry systems, enable airborne atmospheric measurements and high altitude students´ experiments. The modular architecture allows the use of different payloads, composite material structures increase lightness while off-the-shelf components reduce costs; ease of transportation and usability qualify it as an extremely versatile platform. The system is scalable to carry heavier payloads and to perform scientific tests at higher altitudes. The technology demonstrator is going to reach an altitude of 1000m with cost-effective technology and components. Demonstrator´s subsystems (rocket motor, main frame, chute deploy system, etc) have been both ground and flight tested and have shown an optimal accordance between theoretical model and testing. The demonstrator launch took place on 29^th March 2015.