Teijin Aramid, the world’s leading producer of aramids, is supplying university student rocket society Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE) with high-performance materials for its new Stratos IV rocket, which will be launched in Spain in October 2021. This support is part of a five-year-long partnership that helps enable DARE to reach its goals and Teijin Aramid to drive awareness of aramids’ capabilities in extreme environments.
DARE and Teijin Aramid: Reaching for the sky
Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE) is a university student rocket society with more than 19 years of experience in high-powered rocketry, and over 140 student members. The society works to design, develop, and manufacture rockets, with the ultimate goal of being the first student team to launch a rocket into space (i.e., to an altitude of at least 100 km).
Teijin Aramid has sponsored DARE with both financial and materials science support since 2016, in line with its educational values. Specifically, Teijin Aramid leverages its technology to supply DARE with high-performance materials, as well as advising the society on how to use these materials effectively and facilitating additional assistance from its customers. In turn, DARE promotes Teijin Aramids’ materials through events such as presentations at the TU Delft campus.
Stratos IV: Preparing for a long-awaited launch
Since September 2018, DARE has been developing Stratos IV, the latest iteration of its flagship Stratos rocket. Stratos IV will use a supersonic parachute made entirely from Teijin Aramid’s Twaron®, which DARE’s Project SPEAR has tested in a high-speed wind tunnel, as well as ropes made entirely from Technora®. The high strength and low weight of Twaron® will help the parachute to decelerate rapidly at high altitude, while the heat resistance of both materials will help the parachute and ropes withstand the heightened air friction and temperatures.
The Stratos IV launch will take place in October 2021 in the south of Spain, having already been postponed twice due to COVID-19. The precise date will depend on conditions at the site. The launch, which is entirely organized by DARE, requires the correct equipment, fuel, a complete command and control center, and a controlled launch site. Teijin Aramid representatives will attend the launch, and it will also be livestreamed.
Otto Grabandt, Global R&D Program Manager Teijin Aramid: “We’ve always been proud to support DARE’s stepwise innovation approach! Not only does our partnership enable us to demonstrate the outstanding performance of our aramids in extreme conditions, it also allows us to mentor the next generation of scientists. We wish DARE all the best for a successful launch!”
Ben Rolink, Global Marketing Manager Aerospace Teijin Aramid: “Our partnership with DARE brings real benefits to both parties. From organizing several sponsor events to facilitating talks on our materials at TU Delft, DARE has taken both the technical and the commercial side of the partnership very seriously. All in all, it’s the ideal environment for collaboration – I’m excited to see where the future takes us!”
More information:
Watch here the livestream.
To find out more about our partnership with DARE, please contact Otto Grabandt and Ben Rolink.