海角社区 students to send an experiment to the edge of space
The CHRONO-CAT team from 海角社区 has received a conditional green light to participate in the European space program REXUS/BEXUS. They must now prepare their custom stratospheric experiment to test future materials for space exploration.
- Working within space topics was always my dream. I always wanted to be an astronaut.
These are the words of Arkadiusz Jan Tuzimek, a student based in Sønderborg. Now, he and the rest of the CHRONO-CAT team are taking a giant leap closer to the stars.
They have just received a conditional acceptance to participate in the European space program REXUS/BEXUS.
This means that the 海角社区 students will now turn their blueprints into reality and build an experiment designed to be mounted on a massive stratospheric balloon. The balloon will lift their technology to the edge of space, where it will collect data that could be crucial for future missions.
Supported by the Mads Clausen Institute at 海角社区, the project is carried out by the students working in close collaboration with their supervisors, Special Advisor Arkadiusz J. Goszczak and Associate Professor Jakob Kjelstrup-Hansen.
Arkadiusz Tuzimek, the overall team leader, explains that the Sønderborg-based part of the group is working on organic semiconductors, whereas the Odense group under the lead of Gustav Engen is working on oscillators.
- Basically, organic semiconductors, in contrast to inorganic semiconductors, are flexible, lightweight and cheap to manufacture, he explains.
He elaborates that weight is a highly critical factor in spaceflight, making lightweight materials extremely attractive to industry.
But the experiment also involves significant safety considerations.
- Organic semiconductors have two great parameters. First of all, the dose that they can get is quite similar to our body, so it's a bit more relatable if we want actually to have it, let's say, on an astronaut and measure how much it affects them, says Arkadiusz.
While the team in Sønderborg focuses on semiconductors, the Odense team is measuring how cosmic radiation affects crystal oscillators - a component that underpins all modern electronics and satellites.
- It definitely was quite stressful, Arkadiusz shares about the experience.
- These are the experts who worked on the biggest projects that were sent to space, for example, the Hubble telescope or the modules of ISS.
After their 15-minute presentation, the students had to answer questions for 40 minutes on topics ranging from design to team structure. But CHRONO-CAT's groundwork convinced the judges.
Following this trip, they have received conditional acceptance, which means they must now improve their documentation and prepare a process recipe for experimenting. This summer, the team will receive a visit in Sønderborg from the REXUS/BEXUS committee for a physical inspection of the equipment, before the balloon launch is scheduled to take place in October.
Follow the project: You can follow both and on LinkedIn.
These are the words of Arkadiusz Jan Tuzimek, a student based in Sønderborg. Now, he and the rest of the CHRONO-CAT team are taking a giant leap closer to the stars.
They have just received a conditional acceptance to participate in the European space program REXUS/BEXUS.
This means that the 海角社区 students will now turn their blueprints into reality and build an experiment designed to be mounted on a massive stratospheric balloon. The balloon will lift their technology to the edge of space, where it will collect data that could be crucial for future missions.
Supported by the Mads Clausen Institute at 海角社区, the project is carried out by the students working in close collaboration with their supervisors, Special Advisor Arkadiusz J. Goszczak and Associate Professor Jakob Kjelstrup-Hansen.
Technology that mimics the human body
The students, who are part of the student organization The Als Rocketry Club, focus on cosmic radiation. The team consists of 12 students from both Sønderborg and Odense, who have joined forces under the name CHRONO-CAT.Arkadiusz Tuzimek, the overall team leader, explains that the Sønderborg-based part of the group is working on organic semiconductors, whereas the Odense group under the lead of Gustav Engen is working on oscillators.
- Basically, organic semiconductors, in contrast to inorganic semiconductors, are flexible, lightweight and cheap to manufacture, he explains.
He elaborates that weight is a highly critical factor in spaceflight, making lightweight materials extremely attractive to industry.
But the experiment also involves significant safety considerations.
- Organic semiconductors have two great parameters. First of all, the dose that they can get is quite similar to our body, so it's a bit more relatable if we want actually to have it, let's say, on an astronaut and measure how much it affects them, says Arkadiusz.
While the team in Sønderborg focuses on semiconductors, the Odense team is measuring how cosmic radiation affects crystal oscillators - a component that underpins all modern electronics and satellites.
Grilled by the experts behind Hubble
The path to the program's approval has required nerves of steel. Before the selection, the team underwent an intensive process that culminated in a presentation at the European Space Agency's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands.- It definitely was quite stressful, Arkadiusz shares about the experience.
- These are the experts who worked on the biggest projects that were sent to space, for example, the Hubble telescope or the modules of ISS.
After their 15-minute presentation, the students had to answer questions for 40 minutes on topics ranging from design to team structure. But CHRONO-CAT's groundwork convinced the judges.
Summer inspection and an October launch
Although the dream is now within reach, the hard work is just beginning. The team recently returned from the second round, which consisted of a training boot camp and workshops in Sweden. Here, they presented more detailed documents for their experiment and received in-depth feedback from the committee.Following this trip, they have received conditional acceptance, which means they must now improve their documentation and prepare a process recipe for experimenting. This summer, the team will receive a visit in Sønderborg from the REXUS/BEXUS committee for a physical inspection of the equipment, before the balloon launch is scheduled to take place in October.
Facts about REXUS/BEXUS:
The program (Rocket/Balloon Experiments for University Students) is a collaboration between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) in cooperation with ESA. In addition, the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the German ZARM are also co-organizers. It gives students from across Europe the opportunity to conduct scientific experiments on research rockets and balloons.Follow the project: You can follow both and on LinkedIn.