Updates

Today we’re going back to the 90’s and highlighting the fascinating work done by our predecessors in LimerickSEDS, the true rocket pioneers in UL.

Between 1997 and 2000 a group of UL engineering students took it upon themselves to construct and launch a liquid rocket engine. Based on plans for the Systeme Solaire SS67B-1, the pressure bi-liquid engine burnt a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dry ice pressurised petrol.

University support funded the project and gave the team access to workshops for construction and static firing took place in the fields behind the University which has since been developed for student accommodation and sports fields. Much of the initial work on the project took place in late 1997 and early 1998 with the team conducting a number of test-fires to validate their ignition system. However, internships put an 8-month hold on the project with work recommencing in 1999. Steady work allowed the team to achieve its first successful hold down test in 2000.

The first launch attempt took place on May 16th, 2000, in Boora Bog in Co. Offaly. Unfortunately, in-front of a large crowd including members of the media, the rocket failed to ignite. The group was not to be stopped however and with an upgraded ignition sequence, they returned to Boora Bog on September 4th of the same year. This time the ignition was successful and what might be Irelands first liquid rocket engine soared above the bog. However, as anyone who has ever launched a rocket knows a successful recovery can be as elusive as a successful take-off. On this occasion the rocket the rocket landed on one of the only hard spots in the bog and the airframe was destroyed.

There is much more to this group’s story including an aerospike engine and meeting astronaut Stephen Robinson who has flown four space shuttle missions. As student rocketry continues to grow across the country, we are very proud to be able to showcase this project which seems to have been lost in time.

Leading up to our CDR submission to Mach-24 last week, we engaged in rigorous testing of various components within our recovery system. While some of our team basked in the sunlight, conducting parachute tests with a dummy cansat, others diligently assessed the battery life of our ground station electronics. Anticipate witnessing further hardware developments as we progress through testing, inching closer to our launch milestone.

More meetings this week as deadlines loom over the team.

Next week, we'll be revealing what this team and the other project teams have been working on and our goals for this year.

We have now constructed the Eggtimer Quantum flight computer that we will use on the first flight of Sionna.

The Eggtimer Quantum will control the deployment of our parachutes and ensure the safe recovery of our rocket.

The completion of this critical component brings us closer to the launch of our first High-Powered rocket.

Nothing beats a whiteboard and a marker when it comes to presenting an idea.

In-person meetings continued this week as one of our teams continues work on our next rocket.

Big announcement coming soon!!

Over the Christmas season, work has continued on our rocket, Sionna, as we progress towards our first High-Powered launch early this year. We believe that getting our hands on hardware, trying new ideas and learning what worked and what didn't is the only way to get better. That is why we can't wait to get Sionna onto the launch pad.

In the attached pictures, you can see various components of the rocket under construction

This week we had our first in-person meeting of 2024. It was great to see new and old faces who are all looking forward to what is promising to be a great year for rocketry in UL.

Stay tuned for exciting news on the projects that we'll be working on this year.

Over the last 2 months, we've been helping UL Aeronautical Society run a series of rocketry workshops. The purpose of these workshops was to give beginners the opportunity to design and build their own low-powered rockets. For most of the people participating it was their first time scratch building a rocket and the results are impressive.

We hope to see everyone who attended these workshops at future HiPR meetings. Whether they join or not, it's important to us that we help educate people about rocketry.

As exam season draws nearer and HiPR activities start to wind down for the semester we want to share some of the progress that we've made on the construction of Sionna.

Jay Looney has been busy cutting the Bluetube which we are using for our bodytube. We've also 3D printed our 5:1 ogival nosecone. This is all possible thanks to the support of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick.

We still have plenty of work left to do so follow us for more updates.