Aerospace Team Graz

The Aerospace Team Graz is an interdisciplinary team of students with one big goal: to develop their own rocket and participate in the Spaceport America Cup 2022 in New Mexico. The rocket should be up to 3 metres tall and propel to a height of up to 10 km.

Over 60 students from various disciplines are working together in the Aerospace Team Graz to achieve this goal.

Several groups in the Rocket Team are responsible for developing the rocket:

• Aerodynamics: The aerodynamics group is developing the outer design of the rocket to ensure its basic flight stability, from the nose cone to the fins at the rear. First, the design is tested in simulations, then a prototype is constructed and put to test in the wind tunnel and in field experiments.
• Avionics: The avionics group is focusing on the rocket’s hardware and software. In addition to the sensors and main computer, they are working on rocket control, data transmission and visualisation.
• Propulsion: The propulsion group is designing and manufacturing the rocket engine, which includes dealing with additive manufacturing processes, fluid mechanics and different materials.
• Recovery: In order to bring the rocket safely down to the ground again, the recovery group is developing parachutes along with devising their anchorage and ejection systems.
• Structure: The structure group ensures that all manufactured components are integrated into the outer skin and basic structure of the rocket. Reducing weight and balancing the rocket’s centre of gravity are therefore key issues.
• System Engineers: The system engineering group is coordinating and optimising the overall process by means of thorough project, risk, time and resource management.

Our Safety Officers ensures the safety of the entire Aerospace Team Graz when testing and handling hazardous substances.

The Business Team is divided into Marketing and System Administration:

• Marketing: The Marketing group deals with the organisation of our rollouts, conferences, lectures, teambuilding and launch events. They also ensure that the team is well represented on social media.
• System Administration: Our system administrators are responsible for all our IT systems and thus enable the work of the other groups.

The Aerospace Team Graz also benefits from the help of an Advisory Board, a committee of supporters who monitor progress at technical review events and support the students with their feedback and experiences.