Following the successful launch of a rocket developed in collaboration with the Taiwan Space Agency last month (Read more:
NYCU ASARe Team Successfully Launches Sounding Rocket in Taiwan for the First Time), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) achieved another milestone on August 5th. At 7:36 AM, a student-built solid rocket was launched from the Syuhai base in Pingtung for the first time.
The rocket reached its peak altitude of approximately 1 kilometer in just 15 seconds, deployed its parachute, and completed a total flight duration of around 2 minutes and 2 seconds. After landing in the sea, the rocket was recovered by a retrieval vessel, marking the first full recovery of a rocket at the Syuhai launch site.
All the students involved in the launch mission were thrilled to see their rocket pierce the sky at the national rocket launch base.
Cost-effective, Reusable Rocket Designed for Educational and Competitive Use
This solid rocket, codenamed SSTO, was built by eleven students from the Institute of Space Systems Engineering at NYCU as part of their "Space System Integration" course. Named Macaran (after the local Sakaroh tribe), the rocket measures 2.76 meters long, 16.4 centimeters in diameter, and weighs 28.4 kilograms at launch.
The mission aimed to develop a cost-effective, reusable rocket capable of reaching one-kilometer altitude with a fixed propulsion system for future use in teaching or competitions. The propulsion system features a low-cost and safe RNX solid fuel with a maximum thrust of 200 kilograms. This project is part of the practical coursework in the "Space System Integration" class.