LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Rocket–A team of university students in London is preparing to launch the most powerful reusable rocket built by a UK team. On Sunday, September 24th, the student-led Karman Space Programme (KSP) will attempt a two-stage rocket launch to test systems for reuse and recovery of the vehicle, a crucial step towards low-cost, sustainable access to space. The rocket has been named Orion.
The team used AI techniques such as transformer neural networks to speed up simulations by orders of magnitude and use a fraction of computing power. In addition to this, the team’s innovations include a metal 3D printed rocket engine, which is the world’s most powerful non-governmental and non-commercial engine with nearly 40kN of thrust.
The UK Minister for Space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: “To see the next generation of space innovators already pushing the boundaries of UK space technology is remarkable and I wish the Karman Space Programme success after their hard work. Initiatives like these show just how transformative partnerships between academia and industry can be in reshaping the landscape of UK space exploration. As demonstrated globally, the adoption of reusable rocket technology is pivotal in significantly lowering space launch costs and propelling the UK towards a leading role in the space arena.”