After years of planning and careful collecting of components we have finally made the perfect rocket launcher. It's a rock solid and very powerful system installed on a dedicated boogie trailer. The total weight is about 1000Kg and the launcher is easily pulled by a normal private car. The rail will be changed to a 6 metres foldable version, and the lift (launch) capacity will be rockets up to 250Kg. The launcher has already been used on several launches as you see on these pictures. The launch rail is motorized and goes a full 360° in azimuth and from -30° to +210° in elevation (+90° is straight up and 0° is horizontal).The system will be equipped with a fully remote control and firing system, for safe remote elevation and firing. There will also be a digital high precision 2-axis inclinometer for accurate positioning (±0.1°) as well as a built in temperature and and barometric measurement system.

Project Manager: Frode Stensaa

Loading the rocket onto the launch rail

Photo by: Kjersti Lunde Brevig from www.oa.no

Checking the launch angle and fixing the igniter wires to the remotely controlled launch panel

Photo by: Kjersti Lunde Brevig from www.oa.no

And liftoff!!!

Photo by: Kjetil Rolseth

Education rockets

The NEAR E1 rockets are robust and lightweight rockets made of highly durable plastic tubes. The motors are the NEAR RR600 KN/Sorbitol motors with a total impulse of 1500Ns and a burnrate of 1.6 seconds. The motor has a total of 500 grams of propellant and is capable of launching the rocket up to 1400 metres, depending on the weight.

The purpose of these rockets is educational and display purposes, and can be launched in open fields or over water. Students can build these rockets with the guidance of NEAR members and launch them as part of their education. This is perfect for schools where students can learn more about rockets in a more inspiring and real environment.

If you are interested in launches, please contact Frode Stensaa.

Project manager: Jan-Erik Rønningen

A perfect launch and the rocket is just about to leave the rail, speed of the rocket leaving the rail is about 400Km/t

Photo by: Kjetil Rolseth

An E1 rocket to be launched as part of the annual Space Camp education at the Andøya Rocketrange in the northern part of Noway

Photo by: Jan-Erik Rønningen

We have the ambition to design and build a rocket that will beat the world altitude reckord for rocket amateurs, which is currently held by an American group, at 124Km. Our system will be two stage rocket, and designed to go 150+Km up. The design has changed since the mock-up on the picture was made, and more information will follow.

The project is now re-started and the rocket system is being re-designed. Not only will the system itself be re-designed but the propellant has also been re-formulated. The testing of this new propellant will start during the spring of 2009.

Project manager: Frode Stensaa

A model of the original 150Km rocket system

Model made by Per Øyvind Borgen

is a Zink/Sulphur propelled rocket made for launch as part of the celebration of the astronomical year 2009. The rocket motor will use about 9Kg of the propellant and the total rocket weight is about 16Kg including propellant, electronics and parachute recovery system.

Project manager: Arnt Orskaug

This rocket is sponsored by Intech AS and NCE Raufoss. Thank you!

The on display

Photo by: Arnt Orskaug

Arnt Orskaug holding the in front of the model of our solar system.

Photo by: Kjetil Rolseth

is a Zink/Sulphur propelled rocket made for launch as part of the celebration of the astronomical year 2009. The rocket motor will use about 9Kg of the propellant and the total rocket weight is about 16Kg including propellant, electronics and parachute recovery system.

Project manager: Arnt Orskaug

This rocket is sponsored by Intech AS and NCE Raufoss. Thank you!

The on display

Photo by: Arnt Orskaug

Arnt Orskaug holding the in front of the model of our solar system.

Photo by: Kjetil Rolseth

Space Camp (SCA) is an annual event at the Norwegian rocket range at Andøya where about 20 teenagers from all over the world come to get educated at space related sciences. As the grand finale for this event NEAR delivers the rockets. The SCA2000 was designed specifically for this and was based on a KN/Sorbitol rocket motor.

Project manager: Jan-Erik Rønningen

The motor casing and parachute section painted The forward closure Rear view, before the nossle is inserted The rear launch lug and fins Applying carbon fibre and epoxy to the nosecone mould Vacuum moulding the nose cone