--- title: "Eos" description: "A student-built liquid bi-propellant rocket engine." --- # Eos Date: 2026-05-29 A student-built liquid bi-propellant rocket engine. Liquid rocketry ## The Mission Eos is Hamburg Space Team’s rocketry mission: a student-built sounding rocket powered by an SRAD liquid bi-propellant engine. The project brings propulsion, avionics, recovery, ground support equipment, and launch operations into one development campaign. ![](/images/missions/eos/eos-patch.svg) ## Our Goals The first target is to develop and test an engine that can produce around 2 kN of thrust for six seconds using nitrous oxide and ethanol as propellants. With a vehicle diameter of 11 cm and a planned length of about 2.3 m, Eos is designed as a supersonic technology demonstrator to build toward the European Rocketry Challenge. Key values ## Rocket spec sheet Propellants Nitrous Oxide & Ethanol Feed system Pressure fed Engine targets 2 kN Thrust & 6 s Burn time Planned apogee 5 km Vehicle size 11 cm diameter x 2.3 m length ![Vertical cutaway render of the Eos rocket](/images/missions/eos/rocket_section.png) Flight Vehicle ## The Eos rocket - **Recovery:** the dual-deploy parachute recovery system brings our rocket safely down from apogee. - **Avionics and flight firmware:** redundant onboard electronics and embedded firmware handle sensing, state estimation, telemetry, sequencing, and parachute deployment during flight. - **Tanks and pressurization system:** concentric tanks hold the oxidizer and fuel, pressure from nitrous vapor pressure and the inert pressurization system feed the propellants into the injectors. - **Valves and fluid control:** a nitrous-piloted main valve switches flow into the unlike-doublet impinging injectors, all integrated into one 3D-printed assembly - **Combustion chamber:** a phenolic ablative liner protects the chamber, and the graphite nozzle accelerates the exhaust to produce 2 kN of thrust - **Aerostructure:** carbon-composite fins stabilize the rocket, the glass-composite bodytube and nosecone protect the onboard systems from aerodynamic loads ![Render of the Eos test and launch tower concept](/images/missions/eos/tower.png) Ground systems ## Test stand, launch structure, and ground support equipment A liquid rocket is only as good as the ground systems that make testing repeatable and launch operations controlled. - **Test and launch structure:** the tower design supports horizontal integration and vertical operation, with a raised height of 10 m. - **Ground-side fluid system:** tanks, lines, valves, venting, and procedures prepare the vehicle for static fire and launch operations. Together with the avionics network and fluid handling equipment, the ground segment turns Eos into a complete rocketry program rather than a single engine project. Electrical and Software systems ## Control systems for remote operations - **Ground network:** mission control, the launch pad, cameras, and ground fluid systems are all connected over an ethernet network. Modular nodes can actuate valves, read sensors, and power all components with PoE. - **Remote control software:** operators monitor sensors and cameras, move valves, and run procedures from a safe distance. Mission control and the launch pad are up to 750 m apart! - **Operations discipline:** checklists, telemetry, abort logic, and rehearsals turn high-energy hardware into a controlled test campaign. Mission in progress ## Development milestones Fall 2025 ### Development Start The team began Eos with concepts for the engine & ground architecture, and the first test campaign requirements. Spring 2026 ### Engine Design Engine and test stand design continued until June, focusing on the propulsion and ground systems. Summer 2026 ### Manufacturing & Flight Vehicle Design Manufacturing of the propulsion systems, and design of the recovery system, avionics, and aerostructure. Fall 2026 ### Static Fire Campaign The next major target is a static fire of the engine, supported by ground-side fluid systems, remote operations, and sensor-rich test procedures. Spring 2027 ### Supersonic Demonstrator After engine and flight subsystem testing, Eos aims to fly faster than sound and prove that propulsion, avionics, recovery, and operations all work as intended. Fall 2027 ### European Rocketry Challenge The long-term goal is to compete at EuRoC 2027 in Portugal, bringing a fully integrated student rocket to a European launch campaign. Departments as parts of one rocket ## Subsystems ### Structures Launch tower, airframe, interface mechanisms: This subsystem does metal and composite structures for the rocket and on the ground. ### Electrical Avionics hardware, sensors & actuators, power distribution, telemetry radio & networks, and ground support electronics for reliable testing and flight. ### Software Embedded firmware for the flight and ground systems, operations control interfaces, data handling, and network software. ### Recovery Parachutes, lines, and deployment mechanisms that bring the rocket safely back after flight. ### Propulsion Tanks, injectors, valves, combustion chamber, feed system, and test campaigns for the liquid rocket engine. ### GSE Ground Support Equipment is responsible for ground side fluid handling: propellant supply, fill, abort, and safety. Work with us ## Meet the Team Eos is built by students learning liquid propulsion, structures, avionics, software, testing, and launch operations by doing the real work together. [Eos Team members](/team/?year=2026&mission=eos) [Join the team](/join/) [Support us](/supporters/)