The world’s first rocket to use 98% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidiser was tested in its target configuration and reached a ceiling of 101 km. Thus, the date of 3 July 2024 will go down in the history of Polish achievements in developing space technology. The Polish Space Agency, which co-financed the project, was involved in testing the rocket.
At the end of June and the beginning of July, engineers from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation carried out a foreign launch campaign aimed at preparing the Polish suborbital rocket ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K for flight in space conditions. As early as 3 July at 01:09 pm, the tests they carried out were successful. The rocket, launched from Andøya Space Sub-Orbital in Norway, reached a ceiling of 101 km.
- We are proud of the fact that the event, inaugurated by the late Prof. Piotr Wolański's project to develop a Polish suborbital rocket using 98% hydrogen peroxide as rocket propellant is achieving international success. ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K reaching a ceiling of 101 km is a groundbreaking event in the history of Polish science and the achievements of Polish engineers in space technology. With this result, we have proven that our Institute's scientists are able to find a niche, create and implement breakthrough technologies, and are pioneers in making elements of sustainability applicable to space.
Paweł Stężycki, dyrektor Łukasiewicz – Instytutu Lotnictwa
The suborbital rocket, which was developed by engineers from the Łukasiewicz – Aviation Institute, travels at a speed of nearly 1.4 km/s. Many of the technologies used in it can be successfully applied to other rocket systems. It is noteworthy that the head and its utility load compartment fell into the Norwegian Sea 135 km from the launch site as planned and was recovered.
- The crossing of the space barrier by the ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K rocket, developed at the Łukasiewicz - Aerospace Institute, is a historic moment. Never in our history has a Polish rocket reached such a height. This is a historic day for the Łukasiewicz - Institute of Aviation, but also a historic moment for the entire Polish rocket community. It also proves that the civilian missile development community can effectively support military projects. I hope that this success will increase the Ministry of Defence's attention to the competence of Polish engineers working in civilian suborbital rocket design centres.
Michał Wierciński, wiceprezes Polskiej Agencji Kosmicznej
Where the density of the atmosphere is a million times rarer than on Earth
Following the success of four flight tests of the ILR-33 BURSZTYN and ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K rockets, which took place at the country’s training grounds, the Łukasiewicz – Aerospace Institute organised a foreign rocket launch mission. For safety reasons, it took place at a space centre dedicated to testing suborbital systems (Andøya Space) in Norway.
- The fact that the Polish suborbital rocket reached a ceiling of 101 km constitutes the result of the commitment and determination of the entire research team, responsible for both the design of the space technology as well as its testing and systematic improvement. Both launching the rocket and retrieving the head from the sea followed the intended mission scenario.
Sylwester Wyka, zastępca dyrektora ds. badawczych w Łukasiewicz – Instytucie Lotnictwa
The reached ceiling constitutes the result of systematic improvements that the Institute’s engineers implemented after each test flight in Poland. These include: enlarged auxiliary engines, a hybrid main stage engine with extended runtime, expanded launch infrastructure – for example, the WR-2 mobile suborbital rocket launcher. In addition, the flight organisation was improved and adapted to the requirements of foreign training grounds.
- Thanks to tests in Norway, we have proven that the ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K rocket is a complete and mature technical solution. The consistent implementation of the BURSZTYN programme has meant that today we have the skilled personnel and research facilities necessary to develop complex space systems, not just components or subsystems. Developing a launcher that would allow the launch of small satellites into low Earth orbit is possible in Poland. Thus, Polish satellites could be launched by means of a national design, giving us independent access to the orbit. This is crucial in terms of the growing role of satellite data for both civilian and military applications.
Adam Okniński, dyrektor Centrum Technologii Kosmicznych w Łukasiewicz – Instytucie Lotnictwa
Almost 2,000 kilometres to Warsaw
It took six months to organise an overseas space mission, which was an ambitious challenge. A team of engineers and scientists from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation was not only responsible for preparing the suborbital rocket for the foreign mission, but also selecting the launch site and the logistics of the campaign. After a detailed analysis, it was decided that the tests would take place in Norway, at Andøya Space located almost 2,000 km from Warsaw. Conducting the tests was possible through cooperation with the Polish Space Agency, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Development and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Łukasiewicz – Institute of Organic Industry.
- Organising all the logistics required transporting not only the ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K rocket, a technology demonstrator, but also the WR-2 mobile launcher, avionics systems, infrastructure to support the integration of the facility and propellants. Appropriate export permits had to be obtained and safe specialised transport carried out.
Michał Pakosz, kierownik Działu Technologii Rakietowych oraz kierownik projektu ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K w Łukasiewicz – Instytucie Lotnictwa
It is worth knowing that…
All design work related to the construction of the ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K suborbital rocket was carried out at Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation. The ILR-33 BURSZTYN 2K represents a complete system developed on the basis of space standards. It is the world’s first suborbital rocket to use one of the most environmentally friendly propellants, 98%+ hydrogen peroxide. We come into contact with hydrogen peroxide, although in much lower concentrations, in everyday life. Examples include hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) or perhydrol, which is used in the chemical industry for, among other things, bleaching fabrics (30% solution). Even though hydrogen peroxide was used in rocket technology decades ago, the technology of the time did not allow for long-duration missions, which limited the scope of its use. The solution developed at Łukasiewicz – Aerospace Institute provides for propellant application also in satellite platforms and other long-duration space missions.