The sounding rocket REXUS 3 successfully launched from the serene, snow-covered Esrange launch facility in Sweden early in the morning on Wednesday, April 5.

The launch vehicle for REXUS 3 is represented by the unguided solid propellant single stage Improved Orion rocket (mil. M112 Hawk) from military surplus. The motor is a dual thrust burner with a boost phase of 5 seconds and a sustainer phase of approximately 21 seconds.

The rocket accelerates the payload then for 26 seconds and its acceleration peaks at 21 times the Earth’s gravity during the boost phase. A payload mass of 220 pounds (100 kilograms) should be carried up to an apogee of approximately 68 miles (110 kilometers).

The scientific payload capacity is shared between Swedish and German students running a combined six experiments. REXUS is considered as an annual sounding rocket program. 

The REXUS program is a joint project between the Swedish Space Corporation SSC, Esrange, and the Mobile Rocket Base (Moraba) of the German Aerospace Center DLR, conducted by newly founded EUROLAUNCH.

--SPACE.com Staff

Credit: SSC