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 12 launch November 2012 REXUS 13 & 14 launch spring 2013 REXUS 15 & 16 call for proposals open |
| Status BEXUS: |
BEXUS 14 & 15 launch September 2012 BEXUS 16 & 17 call for proposals open |
| Contact: | Natacha Callens, rexus-bexus @ esa.int |
- REXUS/BEXUS rocket & balloon experiments
http://www.esa.int/Education/Rocket_Balloon_Experiments_for_University_Students - How to apply
http://www.esa.int/Education/How_to_apply6 - Sponsorship details
http://www.esa.int/Education/Sponsorship_of_SNSB_ESA_students - BEXUS 14 & 15
http://www.esa.int/Education/Student_experiments_lift_off_on_BEXUS_balloons - Opportunity for REXUS 15/16, BEXUS 16/17
http://www.esa.int/Education/Fly_your_experiment_on_a_rocket_or_balloon - Rexus 11 launch
http://www.esa.int/Education/REXUS_11_takes_to_the_skies - REXUS 12 launch
http://www.esa.int/Education/REXUS_11_and_12_students_met_the_challenges_of_a_real_launch - REXUS 11/12 campaign
http://www.esa.int/Education/REXUS_11_12_rocket_flights_getting_ready - REXUS 13/14 & BEXUS 14/15 team selection
http://www.esa.int/Education/Student_teams_selected_for_upcoming_REXUS_BEXUS_flights2 - REXUS 9/10 & BEXUS 10/11 team selection
http://www.esa.int/Education/Student_teams_selected_for_upcoming_REXUS_BEXUS_flights - Reiter invites students
http://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_astronaut_supports_call_for_next_REXUS_BEXUS_experiments - REXUS 7/8 & BEXUS 8/9 team selection
http://www.esa.int/Education/Experts_select_future_REXUS_BEXUS_experiments - REXUS 5/6 launch
http://www.esa.int/Education/Liftoff_for_latest_REXUS_flights - REXUS 5/6 campaign
http://www.esa.int/Education/REXUS_5_6_experiments_ready_for_launch - BEXUS 6/7 flight
http://www.esa.int/Education/Student_experiments_fly_high_on_helium_balloons - BEXUS 6/7 campaign
http://www.esa.int/Education/BEXUS_balloon_campaign_gets_under_way - REXUS 5/6 & BEXUS 6/7 team selection
http://www.esa.int/Education/Student_teams_selected_to_take_part_in_sounding_rocket_and_balloon_campaigns - REXUS/BEXUS website
http://www.rexusbexus.net - Esrange Space Centre
http://www.ssc.se/about-the-ssc-group/ssc-companies/ssc/esrange-space-center-3 - Swedish National Space Board, SNSB
http://www.snsb.se/dyn_aktuellt.asp?languageId=2 - German Aerospace Center, REXUS BEXUS
http://www.dlr.de/rd/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-2282/3421_read-10516/

