Research, design, and launch of hybrid sounding rockets
SERVICE CENTRE STAND A01
Among the projects selected within the MECSPE Young & Career initiative is THRUST – Transdisciplinary Hybrid Rocket University Students’ Training, developed by students from the University of Padua. The project aims to combine engineering education, applied research, and hands-on experimentation through the design, manufacturing, and launch of hybrid-propulsion sounding rockets, following the “SRAD” (Student Research and Develop) philosophy, making it the only fully student-led rocketry project in the Triveneto area.
THRUST enables students to apply the knowledge gained during their university studies and to develop both technical and soft skills within a highly educational environment that is strongly oriented toward the professional world.
THRUST
The THRUST project was founded in 2020 by a group of Aerospace Engineering students from the University of Padua, with the support of Professors Francesco Barato and Daniele Pavarin, as well as local partner companies. Today, the team includes more than 50 students from several university departments and operates like a real space mission, following a structured milestone plan that guides development from initial design to rocket launch.
At the core of the project is SFR1, a hybrid-propulsion rocket powered by nitrous oxide (N₂O) and paraffin, currently in an advanced testing phase at the Voltabarozzo space propulsion laboratory. In 2025, the team successfully launched SFR0, validating the structure, onboard avionics, recovery systems, and operational procedures. In October 2026, THRUST will also participate in the European Rocketry Challenge with SFRS-Antenore, an international competition involving leading European universities.
With a strong focus on outreach and education, the project also contributes to the organization of IRESS (Italian Rocket Engineering Student Summit), fostering knowledge exchange between universities, industry, and the next generation of aerospace engineers.
KEY FEATURES
The project is structured into three main areas:
Design and Propulsion, focused on the development of propulsion systems, flight simulations, mission analysis, and engine validation;
Structures and Electronics, dedicated to aerostructures, onboard electronics, communication systems, and recovery systems;
Management and Outreach, responsible for team coordination, event organization, scientific dissemination, and collaboration with companies and institutions.
