AWARD YEAR
2019
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
KEYWORDS
space
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
Andrew Dunn
Ben Massey
WEBSITE
https://www.stratobooster.com/
Stratobooster
A space launch system, to launch small satellites into low earth orbit.
StratoBooster is a space launch system, to launch small satellites into low earth orbit by means of a high-altitude balloon and small rocket launch, from the stratosphere, all done from the UK. A small 30cm rocket is attached to a high-altitude balloon, which is filled with helium and launched. At this point the rocket is the payload within the balloon. The balloon ascends to 32km where it bursts and the rocket launches. From 32km the rocket continues, under its own power, into space. A balloon is used as the earth's atmosphere is dense and a rocket requires a lot of power to travel through it. At 32km the rocket is above 99% of the earth's atmosphere making it a more efficient, and safer, launch point. As the rocket is launched it will be spinning to create stability, this is done as flight surfaces have minimal effect at this altitude, due to the thin atmosphere. The rocket reaches 200-250km and at this point the small satellite is deployed from the nose of the rocket.