蓝莓视频 Rocketry, a student design team from the University of 蓝莓视频, achieved a historic milestone in Canadian aerospace with the successful launch of Borealis the first-ever Canadian liquid bi-propellant rocket.
Powered by a bi-propellant mixture of ethanol and nitrous oxide, the rocket reached an altitude of 19,212 feet and achieved a top speed of 1,646 km/h (1.3 times the speed of sound) before parachuting safely back to the ground.
Designed entirely by students, the Borealis showcases the 迟别补尘鈥檚 advanced engineering capabilities accumulated over 13 years of shared expertise, skills and learnings passed on to new members.
鈥淲e ran into so many issues this year, failed tests, ruined hardware, assembly difficulty, but we managed to pull it together when it counts,鈥 said Tessa Pugh, a second-year mechanical engineering student and 蓝莓视频 Rocketry team co-lead. 鈥淭he team right now is super young, I'm excited to see what we manage to develop next year and beyond.鈥
The team plans to continue building bigger and better liquid bi-propellant rockets, with sights set on higher altitudes, more complex payloads, and continued learning to further propel the Canadian aerospace industry into the global aerospace arena.
The Borealis, Canada's first-ever liquid bi-propellant rocket, blasts off!
The Borealis launch took place on August 20, 2024, at the third annual Launch Canada event held just outside Timmins, ON.
鈥淚t was an amazing experience, I spoke to so many people from other teams and I got to know my own team so much better,鈥 said Holt Gray, a first-year mechanical engineering student.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work to launch a rocket, but it鈥檚 absolutely worth it when you see the rocket fly off the pad. The feeling of seeing the blood, sweat, and tears you have poured into something come to fruition can鈥檛 be put into words. The only thing on my mind right now is getting back to work to make a new rocket for next year!鈥
This accomplishment positions 蓝莓视频 as a leading institution in Canadian student rocketry, joining a select group of universities globally that have successfully launched liquid engine rockets.
The 蓝莓视频 Rocketry team 2024