This is how the most powerful supersonic rocket in Catalonia has been launched

His name is Bondar, measure 2.60 meters tall, weighs 33 kilograms and, since last November 30, it is the most powerful supersonic rocket ever built in Catalonia and the most powerful in Spain designed by university students. Its creators are a team of students from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) who present themselves under the name of Cosmic Research and which, today, also boast of being one of the most important student associations in the space sector in all of Spain. After years of work, and countless hours dedicated to this project, the promoters of this initiative enthusiastically relate how was the takeoff of this pioneering space vehicle and, above all, how a student-led project has managed to earn a modest place in the history books.

According to Alba Badia, current coordinator of Cosmic Research, the project started about five years ago hand in hand with a dozen students from different courses and different specialties. The idea, he explains, was not just to build a rocket. The goal was also to develop a series of Technological tools (from the electrical circuit of the vehicle to a flight simulator); design a mission that could generate technical knowledge; and set up a space so that, in the future, this rocket can be used for scientific experiments that require microgravity conditions. “We wanted launch a rocket into the stratosphere and we wanted to do it with the standards of a real launch pad “, sums up the student from l’Escola Superior d’Enginyeries Industrial, Aeroespacial i Audiovisual de Terrassa (ESEIAAT – UPC).

After years and years of work, this fall the mission technical team announced that Bondar was ready for takeoff. On November 23, the engineers at Cosmic Research they rode the rocket in a van Y They traveled from Terrassa to Huelva with the space vehicle in the trunk. After 14 hours of driving, and more than 1,000 kilometers of road traveled, the car finally reached the launch pad of Arenosillo, of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA). Once they have reached their final destination, preparations for takeoff took almost a week; just in time to finish assembling the rocket, inserting the engine, and anchoring the mission launch pad.

Mission takeoff

The Tuesday, November 30, the day started with some favorable weather conditions for take off. To one half of the day countdown operations began. After finalizing all the preparations, the technical team of the mission pressed the launch button at six in the afternoon and, in a matter of seconds, Bondar took flight. The mission successfully took off, rose up to 7.8 kilometers, reached 1,900 kilometers per hour, and eventually collapsed into the sea. “Everything went as planned. Except that the engine burned one second less than expected. This is what has prevented us from reaching eight kilometers in height, “argues Badia.

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The Bondar mission takeoff received great applause and praise this Friday, when the official takeoff results were presented. “This project is proof that there is a lot of talent in Catalonia. Now we have to do everything possible so that these students have opportunities to stay to work here and not be forced to leave “, argues Daniel Marco, general director of Innovation and Digital Economy of the Generalitat. As explained by the spokesman for the ‘Conselleria’ de Polítiques Digitals, a year ago that Catalonia has deployed the ‘New Space’ strategy to strengthen the ecosystem of companies and institutions dedicated to space. “In 2022 we will invest seven million euros in the sector“He says.