Nucleus Sounding Rocket

Nucleus Sounding Rocket

The Nucleus Sounding Rocket is designed and manufactured by Nammo Space at the Raufoss facility. Nucleus utilises the Andøya Space Centre Hotel payload module.

Nammo Space has developed and flown the NUCLEUS SOUNDING ROCKET.  The highly successful maiden flight was witnessed by many on 27th September 2018, from the Andøya Space Centre in northern Norway.  Starting from the baseline of a flight proven sounding rocket, the Nucleus product line is being developed to deliver experiments and spacecraft to an apogee of up to 1000 km.  Each of the Nucleus products is planned to be a single stage delivery system.

Nucleus SC is the Standard Configuration which is ready for procurement.  At the core of this vehicle is the Unitary Motor 1 [UM1], which delivers 30 kN of thrust and a low energy environment when compared to the solid propulsion solution.  Nucleus NEO is currently in development and is being designed to give an additional 50% payload capacity, which can be delivered to a higher altitude.

The final version of this workhorse, Nucleus XL, will come on stream in 2027 and will be aimed at insertion into a 1000 km apogee, with 150 kg nominal payload mass.  This performance will be achieved with the upgraded UM2 engine, at 100 kN of thrust.  The UM2 engine will also be one of the building blocks for the NorthStar nano-Launcher.

Performance Characteristics

Total lift-off mass (wet)

820 kg

Overall Vehicle Length

9.5 m

Payload Diameter

360 mm

Nominal Payload Length

2 m

Engine Mass

Total Payload Module Mass

Apogee

Number of Stages

1

Propulsion Unit

Engine Type

87.5% H2O2-HTPB hybrid

Stage Propellant Feed

Pressure fed

Stage Peak Acceleration

< 7 g

Stage burn time

40 seconds

Spin Rate

< 4.6 Hz

Spin Stabilisation

Yes

Video Channels

4 off

Downlink System

2x 5W S-Band RF links 3,3Mbit PCM data stream Analog video stream

Instruments On-board

Magnetometers, accelerometers, Camera, IMU, Baroswitches, Temperature, Pressure

Technology Readiness Level

TRL8

Status

Nammo is ready to take account of customer needs and requests for tailored specifications and unique performance needs.

 

NAMMO RAUFOSS

ENGINEERING

  • Multidisciplinary space department
  • Specialists in H2O2 propulsion
  • Experienced in sounding rocket flight
  • Experienced on Ariane and Vega programs
  • Emphasis on Risk Management

MANUFACTURING

  • On-site production facility
  • Licensed for on site processes

TEST FACILITIES

  • 500kN thrust test stand
  • Multiple vibration test units
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Propulsion Test Facility

CLEANROOM

  • Specific space hardware assembly areas
  • Cleanliness risk mitigated

QUALITY

  • Certified to AS9100
  • Customer focused Product Assurance

Contact

Kristian Lium

Vice President Space at Nammo Raufoss AS

VISIT
Enggata 37, NO-2830, Raufoss, Norway

Phone
+47 414 02 967

Location

Nammo Raufoss AS

Address
Enggata 37,
2830 Raufoss,
Norway