LUMINA is our first liquid-propelled sounding rocket and our contribution to EuRoC 2025. It marks an important step towards more advanced student-built launch vehicles at HyEnD, bringing together a liquid engine using nitrous oxide and ethanol, a pressure-fed fluid system, composite overwrapped pressure vessels, custom avionics, and a two-stage recovery system. At the same time, LUMINA stays true to one of our defining engineering principles: lightweight construction.
Technical data
Furthermore, LUMINA introduced several new technologies and design approaches to HyEnD. From distributed avionics to liquid propulsion and lightweight composite tanks, the vehicle served as a testbed for systems that continue to shape our current developments.
LUMINA Features
LED Status Nose Tip
A new feature of the rocket is its LED-illuminated tip. It serves as an integrated status indicator and is also capable of transmitting short messages in Morse code, while playfully reflecting LUMINA’s name. Since the LEDs generate a considerable amount of heat, a dedicated cooling system is required, proving that even a visual feature can present an engineering challenge.
Distributed CAN Architecture
LUMINA served as a testbed for BLAST’s newly formed avionics team. It represents a major leap in avionics fidelity compared with earlier rockets, while still being only a first step toward the avionics suite planned for our upcoming rockets. Its distributed architecture comprises a combined PCDU/FCC board and three sensor boards interconnected via CAN. It also includes HyEnD’s first Rust-based flight software. Together, these developments laid the foundation for BLAST’s current avionics platform.
Spring-Loaded Recovery System
LUMINA features a redesigned recovery deployment system with a spring-loaded hatch, pyrotechnic release mechanisms, and a dual-stage recovery sequence. The hatch itself acts as a pilot drag body, extracting the in-house developed HyCube drogue parachute, followed by the 84″ main parachute. The system enables reliable parachute extraction while reducing structural loads and decreasing drift during descent. Together, the drogue and main parachutes decelerate the rocket to a safe touchdown velocity of approximately 6 m/s.
Scientific Payload Platform
LUMINA carries two scientific payloads provided by our friends at KSat and ROCKIT. KSat contributes the FROG (Ferrofluid Response Observation under G-Forces) microgravity experiment, which investigates the behavior of ferrofluids under high-g acceleration and microgravity conditions. The second payload is provided by ROCKIT and consists of the telemetry and avionics unit developed for their lander, allowing it to gather valuable flight data during LUMINA’s mission. Together, both payloads turn LUMINA into a platform for scientific experimentation and technology demonstration.
Through-Tank Ethanol Feed
LUMINA’s nitrous oxide tank forms a structural part of the rocket itself, meaning the ethanol feed line must pass directly through it. The design takes inspiration from a Swagelok heat-exchanger tee. An 8 mm-to-12 mm bored-through fitting was adapted to interface with a 12 mm tee. The resulting solution is simple to integrate and relies entirely on commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) components. Its main drawback, however, is destructive disassembly, as the pipe must be cut to remove the assembly. This will be addressed in future rockets using push-in fittings.
COTS Pressure Regulation
With ethanol, LUMINA is the first HyEnD rocket fueled by a non-self-pressurizing propellant, requiring a pressure-fed system and pressure regulator. As this is the first regulator used on a HyEnD rocket, a commercial off-the-shelf solution was chosen. Originally developed for extreme-pressure applications, it provides precise helium pressure control while reducing complexity and increasing reliability.
Type IV Composite Fuel Tank
In rocketry, every kilogram matters, and the fluid system, particularly the tanks, accounts for a significant share of the vehicle’s mass. Therefore LUMINA employs a lightweight Type IV composite pressure vessel for ethanol storage. By combining a polymer liner with a carbon-fiber overwrap, the tank significantly reduces structural mass while maintaining the required pressure capability.
CFRP-Overwrapped Liquid Engine
LUMINA marks HyEnD’s transition to liquid propulsion. Its engine uses ethanol and nitrous oxide as propellants, provides 1 kN of thrust and operates at a chamber pressure of 60 bar. The ablative combustion chamber combines a phenolic liner with a carbon-fiber overwrap and a bonded graphite throat insert. This design combines low mass with the strength and thermal resistance required for reliable engine operation.
LUMINA marks the beginning of a new generation of HyEnD launch vehicles. As the first rocket of the BLAST Project, it laid the foundation for many technologies now being taken further.
The next step is AURORA, building on LUMINA with further developments in propulsion, structures, avionics and flight systems.
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