The rocket, with its five experiments, was launched from Esrange Space Center on March 19th, at 14.05 UTC, and reached an altitude of 86,5 kilometres. The five experiments on board were testing new technical systems developed and built by students from universities all over Europe. The next student rocket, REXUS 11, is planned for launch on Wednesday, March 21st. On board there are four additional experiments.
The REXUS/BEXUS program allows students from universities and higher education colleges across Europe to carry out scientific and technological experiments on research rockets and balloons. Each year, two rockets and two balloons are launched, carrying as many as 20 experiments designed and built by student teams. REXUS experiments are launched on an unguided, spin-stabilized rocket powered by an Improved Orion Motor with 290kg of solid propellant. It is capable of taking 40kg of student experiment modules to an altitude of approximately 100km. The vehicle has a length of approx. 5.6m and a body diameter of 35.6 cm.
The REXUS/BEXUS program is formulated under a bilateral Agency Agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). The Swedish share of the payload has been made available to students from other European countries through a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
EuroLaunch, a cooperation between the Esrange Space Center of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) of DLR, is responsible for the campaign management and operations of the launch vehicles. Experts from ESA, SSC and DLR provide technical support to the student teams throughout the project. REXUS and BEXUS are launched from SSC, Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.