BOOMERANG
BOOMERANG stands for nonBOOM-deploying Experiment with a Return-to-launch-site Automated Non-propelled Glider.
BOOMERANG is a multinational team of students from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden united in their shared interest on aerospace research and challenges. The aim of the project is to develop a functioning and modular recovery unit that can return free-falling research probes to defined coordinates with the help of an autonomously controlled paraglider. With the help of this development, future research projects in the field of plasma physics at KTH will be carried out more cost- and resource-efficiently.
Normally, the Free Falling Unit is landed using a parachute and retrieved via a costly helicopter search. The innovative vision for BOOMERANG is to design a deployable glider solution, enabling autonomous gliding flight back to the launch site.
The experiment has been selected as part of the REXUS/BEXUS programme and is planned to launch in Kiruna in spring 2024.
We’ll be back!
Our Mission
REXUS/BEXUS
BOOMERANG is KTH’s latest application to the REXUS/BEXUS student programme. The REXUS/BEXUS programme is realised under a bilateral Agency Agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) and allows students from universities and higher education colleges across Europe to carry out scientific and technological experiments on research rockets and balloons. Usually each year, two rockets and two balloons are launched, carrying up to 20 experiments designed and built by student teams. Experts from DLR, SSC, ZARM and ESA provide technical support to the student teams throughout the project. REXUS and BEXUS are launched from SSC, Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.
The FFU
The Free-Falling-Units (FFUs) which will later carry out the scientific measurements consist of three Units. A modular design helps to ensure that the developments achieved during the BOOMERANG project can later be transferred to other research projects. The development focus will be on the top unit, the so-called Recovery Unit (RU) which will contain several systems such as the paraglider and a stabilization system to allow for a successful and controlled recovery.
Engineering Challenges
In addition to designing the FFU as well as the Rocket Mounted Unit (RMU) in which the experiment is stored, the project demands extensive analysis and testing of the aerodynamic properties of the paraglider. Furthermore, the FFU stabilization when reentering the atmosphere as well as the glider deployment and electronics have to be sized to fit inside the limited internal storage inside the FFU. During the descent, the deployment mechanism has to withstand the mechanical stress provided by the atmosphere while the electronics must function across a wide range of temperatures. Autonomous gliding flight in high altitude winds also requires a reliable control system. Different subteams work on each of these challenges.
Support and Sponsoring
Throughout the project, the team receives support from various sources. During the development of the project the team is assisted and supervised by experts from various fields at KTH as well as from experts from ESA, DLR and SSC. Furthermore, the development and manufacturing of the paraglider is greatly supported by NIVIUK, a leading expert within the development and production of paragliders. Through these collaborations the team has the great privilege of creating a great network and gaining unique experiences through visits at our partner sites in Spain, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands.
Join the Team!
We still have a lot of work and development ahead of us and we are currently looking to expand our team. If you are interested in working on an exciting and complex project close to the space industry, we would love to hear from you! Skills and experience in the fields of mechanical engineering, aerodynamics and fluid dynamics and control engineering are at the heart of our technical development but we are also looking for support in other areas such as outreach and public relations as well as project management.
If we have sparked your interest don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
