| Summary: |
Motivated by the New Space emergence and the escalation of the number of small satellites launches, CARAVELA is an R&D project that proposes the design, development and demonstration of technologies for building blocks for a multi-use micro-launcher dedicated to small satellites.
The Consortium intends to take advantage of the complementary expertise developed by each member individually, thus focusing on the development of individual building blocks (such as the hybrid propulsion system, the liquid propulsion system, the avionics, the structure and fairings, and the interstage mechanism), instead of the system as a whole.
However, CARAVELA aims to intensify the effort on the standardization aspect of the solutions and concepts of scalability, as well as guarantee the technical, economical and operational feasibility of integrating the developed building blocks on a micro-launcher.
In order to assure the consistency of the building blocks as a whole, the project will include activities of assembly and integration, as well as a demonstration of the proposed solution through a single launch of sounding rockets to Space.
CARAVELA is led by TEKEVER and puts together renowned Portuguese companies in the field of Space Research such as HPS and Omnidea, and internationally recognized R&D centres such as CEIIA, NOVA, FEUP, ISQ, and IN+ from IST. The project will benefit from the network created during the INFANTE project (also led by TEKEVER) and reinforce the link between these entities, as well as emphasize the role of Portugal as a first-line country in access to Space. |