Aether M

Building on the experience gained from the Aether S project, our team has begun development on our next-generation research rocket. Named Aether M, the vehicle is expected to carry a 3U CubeSat payload, powered by a hybrid rocket engine developed in-house. Our primary goal for this platform is the flight-testing of our custom-developed onboard electronics and parachute recovery systems. Additionally, the universal design of the engine section will allow us to integrate a wide range of rocket motors in the future.

Engine Development

Following the solid-propellant rocket motors used in the Aether S rocket family, our team committed to developing a more cost-effective and safer alternative. We chose hybrid rocket engines, where the fuel is present as a single, homogeneous solid component, while the oxidizer required for propulsion is injected into the combustion chamber as a liquid or gas. We conducted our first successful hybrid engine test during the 2024 season, which is captured in the video below. Since then, the engine has been successfully adapted for the Aether M rocket platform. Our future objective is to further refine the engine and deploy higher-performance versions during upcoming Aether M missions.

Aether S Mk2

BME Aerospace Team is developing the next member of the Aether S rocket family in 2023. The Aether S Mk2 platform is going to be a service-ready launch capacity, that is as responsive and cost-effective as its predecessor, but with a much higher degree of automation.

Aether S launch

The first Hungarian launch of the Aether S took place in January 2023. The launch was a huge success, with enormous professional and media interest. Click on the rocket below for the aftermovie.

EuRoC 2022

BME Aerospace Team, as the first and only Hungarian team represented Hungary and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics at the 2022 European Rocketry Challenge in the 9 000 m solid propellant category.

Aether S

BME Aerospace Team developed a novel supersonic suborbital sounding rocket platform called Aether S in 2022. The rocket is a 3,5-meters-long, solid propellant vehicle with an apogee of 9 000 meters.

Our long-term goal

The long-term goal of the BME Aerospace Team is to introduce rocket sports in Hungary and to pave the way for the next generation of students interested in rocket science.