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    ESA > Education

    Rocket & Balloon Experiments for University Students

    The REXUS and BEXUS programmes offer opportunities for student experiments to be flown on sounding rockets and stratospheric balloons. Each flight will carry a payload consisting solely of student experiments.

    The REXUS / BEXUS programme is realised under a bilateral Agency Agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). The Swedish share of the payload has been made available to students from other European countries through a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).

    EuroLaunch, a cooperation between the Esrange Space Center of SSC and the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) of DLR, is responsible for the campaign management and operations of the launch vehicles. Experts from ESA, SSC and DLR provide technical support to the student teams throughout the project.

    REXUS is an unguided, spin-stabilised, solid-propellant, single stage rocket. The vehicle has a length of about 5.6 m and a diameter of 35.6 cm and the total available mass for student experiments is about 30 kg.

    The BEXUS balloon has a volume of 12,000 m³ and a diameter of 14m when filled. The total mass available for the experiments is between 40 and 100 kg. The maximum altitude is 35km and the flight duration is 2-5 hours.

    For more information, please visit the REXUS/BEXUS website and the DLR REXUS/BEXUS webpages.

    Quick Facts

    Project: Rocket & Balloon Experiments for University Students
    Level: University
    Status REXUS: REXUS 13 & 14 launched in May 2013
    REXUS 15 & 16 teams selected; launch foreseen for Spring 2014
    Status BEXUS: BEXUS 14 & 15 launched in September 2012
    BEXUS 16 & 17 teams selected; launch foreseen for October 2013
    Contact: Natacha Callens, rexus-bexus @ esa.int

    REXUS video

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    Sequences extracted from the REXUS 11 and 12 campaign (March 2012) in Kiruna, Sweden.

    BEXUS video

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    Sequences extracted from the BEXUS 14 and 15 campaign (September 2012) in Kiruna, Sweden.

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    • More information
    • REXUS/BEXUS rocket & balloon experiments
    • How to apply
    • Sponsorship details
    • Related news
    • REXUS 13/14 compaign wrap-up
    • Rexus 13/14 campaign
      • REXUS and BEXUS teams selected
      • BEXUS 14 & 15
      • Opportunity for REXUS 15/16, BEXUS 16/17
      • Rexus 11 launch
      • REXUS 12 launch
      • REXUS 11/12 campaign
      • REXUS 13/14 & BEXUS 14/15 team selection
      • REXUS 9/10 & BEXUS 10/11 team selection
      • Reiter invites students
      • REXUS 7/8 & BEXUS 8/9 team selection
      • REXUS 5/6 launch
      • REXUS 5/6 campaign
      • BEXUS 6/7 flight
      • BEXUS 6/7 campaign
      • REXUS 5/6 & BEXUS 6/7 team selection
      • Related links
      • REXUS/BEXUS website
      • Esrange Space Centre
      • Swedish National Space Board, SNSB
      • German Aerospace Center, REXUS BEXUS

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