Panda3 is the third hybrid-powered rocket created by the members of AGH Space Systems. Its main goal was to debut at the largest international rocket engineering competition – the Spaceport America CUP, held in June 2018 in New Mexico.
The mission of the rocket was to reach an altitude of 10,000 feet (approximately 3 km), carry a payload of 4 kg to that height, and safely land the rocket using a two-stage recovery system. Additionally, the onboard electronics were responsible for remote control of the tanking system, propulsion, and recovery, collecting and analyzing data using devices such as a barometer, accelerometer, and gyroscope, as well as transmitting the rocket’s position information to the ground station.
Rocket length 3.17 m
Rocket diameter 13 cm
Rocket mass 12.7 kg
Propellant mass 6.3 kg
Rocket launch mass 23 kg
Number of stages 1
Propulsion type hybrid
Fuel polyamide
Oxidizer nitrous oxide
Generated thrust 800 N
Total impulse 7 kNs
Maximum acceleration 2.76 G
Maximum speed 193 m/s
Predicted apogee 3 km
To achieve the planned altitude, a hybrid engine was built, generating a thrust of about 800 N. Several static tests were conducted to choose the fuel, as well as the injector and nozzle.
As for the structure of the rocket, fiberglass and carbon fiber laminates were used to minimize the rocket’s mass while maintaining the structural strength. The oxidizer tank, containing liquid nitrous oxide, was made of aluminum with a strength rating of over 120 bar.
The recovery system consists of two parachutes. The first one opens at apogee and is designed to slow down the rocket’s descent speed to 26 m/s. The second one slows the descent speed to 9 m/s at an altitude of 500 meters above the ground. The separation of the nose cone occurs using a pyrotechnic system, which is controlled by onboard electronics, allowing the rocket’s position to be determined.
Thanks to the experience gained during the creation of previous rocket projects and numerous tests of all subsystems, Panda3 received high ratings from the judges and permission for flight. Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions and resulting issues with overheating the batteries, the Panda3 mission was not carried out. Ultimately, the rocket took 9th place in the liquid and hybrid engine category for a flight to 3 km.
Panda3 completed its main flight in October 2019 during the Experimental Rocket Flights event held in Drawsko Pomorskie. During this event, all subsystems were tested in flight to their maximum altitude.
Leader: Agata Zwolak
Hybrid propulsion section: Bartosz Wyciszkiewicz, Rafał Wróbel, Patryk Palej, Agata Zwolak
Mechanics and recovery system section: Michał Pyza, Piotr Roszkowski, Paweł Lysy, Dagmara Stasiowska
Electronics section: Bartosz Zieliński, Krzysztof Lipiński, Tomasz Tatara
Ground station section: Piotr Szmigielski, Piotr Wolański, Karol Horosin
Logistics and marketing section: Agata Zwolak, Weronika Mrozińska, Bartosz Gawęda