Satellites in the business world

Abstract

On March 12, 1974, the experimental hybrid rocket BARBARELLA was launched from a platform in the Baltic Sea. This launch represents the culmination of a research program at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), which was started in 1964. In that year, a student association with the name “Wissenschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Raketentechnik und Raumfahrt (Scientific Study Group for Rocketry and Astronautics)-WARR” was founded at the Technical University in Munich, Germany. In 1966, the Institute of Astronautics at the TUM was founded and a close cooperation developed between the student association WARR and the University Institute. After 1966, the student activities were carried out under the supervision of the Institute, so that the group members were able to combine academic training and independent research, thus making their activities more effective. In 1968 the BARBARELLA program – the development of an experimental hybrid rocket – was started, and student activities were concentrated into three fields: basic research of various phenomena in hybrid rockets, especially those related to the vehicle; development of the various components of the rocket; and systems studies for the vehicle design. The development of the vehicle took 5 years. As a result of the program, many study papers, a dozen masters theses and about the same number of Institute reports, a Ph.D. Thesis, and a book were published. The BARBARELLA program was supported by various other organizations, such as the Institute of Propulsion and Institute of Fluid Mechanics of the Technical University Munich, the German Aerospace Establishment (DFVLR), the German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics (DGLR) and the Department of Defense, Procurement Office (BWB). The successful launch of the vehicle, in which all goals were achieved, demonstrates the effectiveness of a program based on close cooperation between a student association and a University Institute.