Scottish space firm set to take flight with German partnership

Aurora Avionics’ technology selected for German research rocket mission

A LEADING Scottish Space firm is establishing a foothold in the European aerospace sector as it successfully integrated its technology into a German research rocket system for a first test flight.

Engineers from Scottish-based Aurora Avionics travelled to the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) site near Munich to integrate its PF1 on-board computer system with the MAPHEUS® sounding rocket, which serves as a central platform for conducting materials physics and life science experiments under microgravity.

Serving as the national research and technology organisation for aeronautics and space research in Germany, DLR’s sounding rocket programme sees the annual launch of the MAPHEUS® rocket. Reaching altitudes of up to 300 kilometres the launch creates conditions to conduct various scientific experiments onboard.

In preparation for the upcoming launch, Aurora Avionics worked alongside DLR’s Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) team to ensure all hardware including a camera, service module, and supporting equipment of Aurora Avionics’ first experimental prototype system was installed and tested within a day.

Myles Bax, Commercial Lead at Aurora Avionics said: “Seeing our technology being integrated into a major German research system is an exciting moment, not only for our firm but for the wider Scottish space industry.

“Hardware developed here in Scotland is now being integrated into major European programmes, highlighting the growing role the country is playing within the international space sector.

“As we continue to establish our presence across Europe through a growing number of partnerships, opportunities like this allow us to demonstrate the capabilities of our technology on an international stage.”

Now successfully integrated, Aurora Avionics’ system will form a key part of the payload carried on the upcoming the MAPHEUS®-17 launch set to take off from Estrange, Sweden in October of this year.

Dorian Hargarten, Head of DLR’s MORABA, said: “The close collaboration between our engineering teams allowed the integration and testing process to be completed very efficiently. We look forward to continuing our work with Aurora Avionics as we prepare for the launch of MAPHEUS®-17and to seeing the system perform its first test within a real flight environment.”

The partnership marks a major milestone for Aurora Avionics, with its technology now forming part of a sounding rocket payload, revealing its system’s ability to function within a demanding launch environme

Oren Smith-Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Avionics, said: “Seeing our system successfully integrated into a complex research rocket marks a major moment. The speed at which we were able to complete the integration is testament to our deep understanding of DLR’s system and the close collaboration between both engineering teams.

“Flying on a major European research mission gives us the opportunity to test how our technology performs within a real launch environment and demonstrate our capabilities on an international stage.

“As we work alongside DLR in preparation for the October launch, we’re looking forward to seeing our technology play a part in this major launch”

The partnership marks a benchmark moment for Aurora Avionics who have experienced consistent growth within Europe, signing a £525,000 deal with Spanish-based Pangea Propulsion last year as well as securing a recent partnership with French-based Alpha Impulsion.

Aurora Avionics sits at the forefront of development of future space launch campaigns by providing cutting-edge universal avionics systems that will be the most efficient and cost-effective solutions on the market. As they work to prepare for the launch engineers will continue to provide technical expertise and support to ensure its system is fully prepared for the demands of the upcoming mission.