Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI)

The test & measurement community set a new benchmark at yesterday's TANDM Community Connect! As they say, to measure is to know, and yesterday was all about gaining more profound insights and advancing our understanding. Thank you to everyone who attended, and a big round of applause to our presenters for delivering such an enriching experience. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for supporting the event! We’re looking forward to TCC24 in Somerset West next week! Nino Wunderlin Christiaan Veldman Dr. Michiel Heyns Pr.Eng. F.Inst.D Stephan Roux Jacques Bester Roelof Minnaar Willem Wannenburg Doug Lovelace Malte Grieme Ultimate Partner Qfinsoft (PTY) LTD SIMTEQ Engineering (HxGN | MSC partner) SAIMechE Structa Group (Pty) Ltd Privé Logistics #LetsTANDM #TCC24 #TestandMeasurement

We are excited to announce Nino Wunderlin, Senior Engineer at the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI), as a presenter at TCC24 in Pretoria! With a wealth of expertise in rocket propulsion system design and testing, Nino has been a driving force in advancing liquid and hybrid rocket technologies in Africa. His work, particularly in liquid rocket engine combustion chamber design and testing, has significantly contributed to the field. Nino will present on “Combustion frequency measurements of the SAFFIRE liquid propellant rocket engine,” a session you won't want to miss. Secure your ticket today—spaces are limited! https://tandm.co.za/tcc24 #LetsTANDM #TCC24 #TestandMeasurement #PresenterHighlight

Hybrid rocket propulsion is awesome. Take a solid fuel - in our case paraffin wax - and combine with a liquid oxidizer - we use nitrous oxide - and you can create a workable propulsion system that bridges the divide between solids and liquids. At 200 sec, the Isp isn't mind-blowing, but this architecture is great for training students in rocket design, GSE development, test operations, on-pad propellant loading and launch operations. And it gets ASRI's Phoenix vehicles up to decent altitudes for flight testing a host of technologies, such as recovery and avionics systems. Our engineers recently conducted a series of static tests with different fuel additives and Phoenix chamber/nozzle designs as part of our ongoing hybrid propulsion R&D program - always looking for that extra bit of impulse. Enjoy the flame and fury! 

ASRI is pleased to announce a new research partnership in space propulsion engineering between University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Glasgow Space and Exploration Technology Group.   Our thanks to the UK Government which has facilitated funding for the joint programme through the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This support, together with a new MoU between UKZN and the University of Glasgow, has paved the way for co-operation between our teams, who will focus on improving the design and quality of additively manufactured components for space propulsion systems. We’re looking forward to getting started!

IAC2024 provided us with a great opportunity to update the space community on ASRI's vision for, and progress towards, an indigenous African space launch capability. If you'd like a more detailed understanding of our work, check out our paper here!

And that's a wrap for IAC2024 - now the world's largest space conference. Thanks to the South African National Space Agency for providing SA's space industry with a great launching pad for getting the message out about our country's products and capabilities. Looking forward to IAC 2025 Sydney!

It's the IAC2024! ASRI is exhibiting as part of the SANSA pavilion at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan. If you're here, please drop by and visit! ASRI is proud to partner with the Department of Science and Innovation and South African National Space Agency as the SA space industry flies the flag high in Milan. There's been lots of interest in South Africa's space engineering capabilities, and many new contacts made, with tremendous potential for collaboration on future projects.

ASRI engineers have commissioned a new suborbital sounding rocket launch facility at the Denel Overberg Test Range (OTR) in the Western Cape. The facility was funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and is a first for South Africa in terms of its capabilities. It also represents the first significant piece of space launch infrastructure built since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy. Suborbital rockets are unguided and must be launched off a gantry that can be accurately aimed, depending on the required flight trajectory, mission requirements and safety risks. The new gantry has a state-of-the-art aiming and control system to allow the boom to rotate through 360 degrees in the horizontal plane, and 90 degrees up to the vertical position. This permits pin-point aiming accuracy in any direction and fast adjustment to account for factors like changes in wind direction on launch days. During the commissioning exercise, UKZN engineers put the gantry through its paces alongside a team from TF Design Group of Companies, which built the platform to ASRI’s specification. A successful cold-flow propellant test was also run using a Phoenix hybrid rocket to assess performance of ASRI’s launch control software and to ensure that communication between the control room and the rocket was possible. The gantry will be used to launch suborbital rockets built by ASRI, such as Phoenix, but can also accommodate much larger solid-propellant vehicles of the type operated by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Sounding Rocket Program and the European Space Agency - ESA . Suborbital rockets are used to flight-test aerospace technologies as well as to conduct scientific research in the high atmosphere above 80 km in a region that is too high for balloons and often too low for satellites. Some even travel hundreds of kilometres into space to measure parameters such as the Earth’s magnetic field, sun strength and atmospheric radiation levels. They can also be used to test out new materials, communication equipment and propulsion systems. Sounding rockets are a critical step in developing an orbital satellite launch capability. With the commissioning of the new equipment, UKZN becomes the first and only university in South Africa to operate a permanent suborbital rocket launch facility. This will further strengthen ASRI’s capacity for cutting edge aerospace research and provide a unique training environment for the world-class engineers we produce.

ASRI has had a great time this week exhibiting and networking at Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD Expo) 2024, which wraps up today. Our sincere thanks to the South African National Space Agency for graciously hosting our exhibit at their stand. We're also grateful for the enthusiastic support we've received from the South African Air Force during the course of the week. We look forward to returning in 2026! Department of Science and Innovation University of KwaZulu-Natal #AAD2024

ASRI was recently invited to address a meeting of the Heads of African Space Agencies on the institute’s work to develop an independent satellite launch capability for South Africa and the African continent. The visitors, who were hosted by SANSA at Denel Overberg Test Range, were given a presentation on ASRI’s CLV small satellite launch vehicle, its Phoenix hybrid rocket programme and the progress the UKZN-based institute has made in developing space launch infrastructure. Following this, the delegation was given a tour of ASRI’s brand new, DSI-funded sounding rocket launch gantry which is nearing completion at OTR. The gantry will be commissioned in December this year and will serve as South Africa’s first gateway to suborbital space.