Rexus and Bexus

REXUS/BEXUS (Rocket Experiments for University Students / Balloon Experiments for University Students) is a European programme for student experiments on rockets and balloons. The programme utilises sounding rockets and balloons launched from Esrange in northern Sweden.^[1]

Responsible organisations

"The REXUS/BEXUS programme is realised 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."^[1]

REXUS

REXUS rockets are launched from Esrange on an annual basis (nominally 2 rockets each spring), with full recovery and return of the experiment hardware to the students.

Type: Spin-stabilized rocket, powered by an Improved Orion motor
Mass: 515 kg (at launch)
Size: 5.6 m long, body diameter 14 in (35.6 cm)
Fuel: 290 kg of solid propellant
Peak altitude: 80–100 km
Payload: Student experiments of max 40 kg, system payload 60 kg
Recovery: Helicopter

REXUS Missions

Mission	Date	Launch site	Apogee	Reference Report	Link
REXUS 1^[2]	1995-12-04	Esrange	89 km	Esrange EUK105-9603
REXUS 2	2004-10-28	Esrange	91.4 km		SSC
REXUS 3	2006-04-05	Esrange	110 km	Esrange EUP136-E23	SSC
REXUS 4	2008-10-22	Esrange	175 km		SSC
REXUS 5	2009-03-13	Esrange	87.3 km	RX05_09_12_06	SSC
REXUS 6	2009-03-12	Esrange	88.4 km	RX06_09_12_06	SSC
REXUS 7	2010-03-02	Esrange	83 km		SSC
REXUS 8	2010-03-04	Esrange	88 km		SSC
REXUS 9	2011-02-22	Esrange	80.6 km		SSC
REXUS 10	2011-02-23	Esrange	82 km		SSC
REXUS 11	2012-11-06	Esrange	82 km		SSC
REXUS 12	2012-03-19	Esrange	82 km		SSC
REXUS 13	2013-05-09	Esrange			SSC
REXUS 14	2013-05-07	Esrange	81.5 km		SSC
REXUS 15	2014-05-28	Esrange	80.7 km		SSC DLR ESA
REXUS 16	2014-05-27	Esrange	87 km ?		SSC DLR ESA

REXUS Experiments

REXUS 8

VECTOR

REXUS 10

FOCUS

REXUS 13

CERESS
MUSCAT
StrathSat-R
SOLAR

REXUS 14

CAESAR
Gekko
EDoDSpaceSailors
PoleCATS

REXUS 15/16

StrathSat-R
MEDUSA
CWIS
FOVS
HORACE
ISAAC
MOXA
LOW Gravity

BEXUS

BEXUS balloons are launched from Esrange on an annual basis (nominally 2 balloons each autumn).

Balloon: 10,000 - 12,000 m³ Zodiac 12 SF plastic balloon with helium gas
Length of balloon train: 65–100 m from top of balloon to gondola
Experiment mass: 40–100 kg
Flight duration: 2–5 hours
Peak altitude: 20–35 km
Recovery: Helicopter

BEXUS Missions

Mission	Date	Launch site	Balloon volume	Peak altitude	Flight duration	Reference Report	Link
BEXUS 1		Esrange
BEXUS 2	2004-02-26	Esrange	10 000 m³	27 km			SSC
BEXUS 3	2005-03-22	Esrange		28.5 km			SSC
BEXUS 4	2006-06-19	Esrange	10 000 m³	30 km	3.2 hours	Esrange EUP137-E24	SSC
BEXUS 5	2007-03-28	Esrange	12,000 m³	25 km	3.5 hours		SSC
BEXUS 6	2008-10-08	Esrange	10 000 m³	29 km	2.5 hours		SSC
BEXUS 7	2008-10-08	Esrange	12 000 m³	26 km			SSC
BEXUS 8	2009-10-10	Esrange					SSC
BEXUS 9	2009-10-11	Esrange					SSC
BEXUS 10	2010-10-09	Esrange		22,5 km	3 hours		SSC
BEXUS 11	2010-11-23	Esrange	12 000 m³				SSC
BEXUS 12	TBD	Esrange					SSC
BEXUS 13	TBD	Esrange					SSC
BEXUS 14	TBD	Esrange
BEXUS 15	TBD	Esrange
BEXUS 16	2013-10-08	Esrange	12 000 m³	27,0 km	4 hours		SSC
BEXUS 17	2013-10-10	Esrange	12 000 m³	26,8 km			SSC