Space Research Technologies Co.
File:SRTC Logo.jpg | |
File:SRTC Logo.jpg Current logo of the SRTC. | |
Private | |
ISIN | 🆔 |
Industry | Space industry |
Founded 📆 | June 5, 2020 |
Founders 👔 | Caelan Slade-Campbell, Adrian Dumitru |
Headquarters 🏙️ | , |
Area served 🗺️ | |
Key people | |
Services | Orbital rocket launch and spacecraft design |
Members | |
Number of employees | 4 |
🌐 Website | sites |
📇 Address | |
📞 telephone | |
Space Research Technologies Co. (also known as The SRTC) is a small private Australian space company headquartered in Queensland, Australia that is currently developing designs for lightweight spacecraft and other associated space technologies. It's sole mission is to provide more efficient and unique designs for spacecraft and rocket engines, however the SRTC also specializes in launching "some of their own" rockets into orbit.
The maiden launch of it's first rocket, called Neutron I, is planned for late 2020 and is estimated to reach an altitude of ~20 kilometres. After the launch of Neutron I, the Tuna Sandwich Space Program (usually referred to as the TSS Program) will take place, where a tuna sandwich will be sent to an altitude of 100 kilometres, where the Kármán line resides, and then be eaten to observe how high altitudes and low gravity conditions can affect the sandwich (and other payload on the rocket). The sandwich will be sent via Neutron II, which is a rocket that is also planned to be built and launched for 2021 or 2022. If the program is a success, the SRTC will have become the first Australian private space company to send food into space.
Founding[edit]
The SRTC was founded on June 5th, 2020 in Australia by Caelan Slade-Campbell and Adrian Dumitru. The logo for the company was made just three days later, along the concepts for the Tuna Sandwich Space Program. As of now, the company has not been involved in any programs, and is still planning and constructing the Neutron I and Neutron II rocket.
Spacecraft[edit]
Neutron I[edit]
A majority of the design for Neutron I has been kept confidential by the company, but it has been said that Neutron I is planned to be a liquid ethanol-powered sounding rocket, being 1.3 metres tall and with a diameter of 20 centimetres. It's aeroshell is expected to be made out of aluminium, along with a parachute installed in a compartment on the tip of the nose that automatically be deployed at it's peak altitude for recovery.
It is also said that the rocket will not be immediately lit whilst on the ground, but rather a weather balloon is attached in order to reach a high enough altitude before ignition and separation, similar to that of a rockoon, although this concept is not confirmed by the company yet. However, because the Neutron I's weather balloon cannot be steered, the location from which the rocket will fall from is uncertain. Therefore, a large area (over 5 kilometres in each direction) for the fall of the rocket is said to be required for safety reasons. Radio trackers will be attached onto the rocket, which send a GPS position to the ground for an estimated landing spot, to make the recovery easier.
Neutron I is expected to launch on "late 2020, perhaps even early 2021", and reach an altitude of ~20 kilometres.
Neutron II (TSS Project)[edit]
Promptly after the launch of Neutron I, Neutron II is said to begin further planning and construction. Neutron II is also said to be a replica of Neutron I with a very similar design, except that it's planned to be 9-10 metres tall with a diameter of 1.3-1.5 metres.
The sandwich will be locked in place in a hollow, exposed compartment in the mid-section of the rocket, where it is exposed to space, but is designed so the sandwich does not fly out of the compartment nor burn up and disintegrate during re-entry. During lift-off, the aerodynamic flaps will redirect any impending molecules that might cause drag. When Neutron II surpasses the Kármán line and begins to descend, the parachute will be promptly deployed and the flaps will close in to protect the sandwich from re-entry into the atmosphere.
If the tuna sandwich and the rocket safely return to Earth, the tuna sandwich is scheduled to be consumed, to observe if space might have affected it's taste, flavour, texture, etc. Before the launch of Neutron II, two tuna sandwiches will be made, one of which is the sandwich that will be exposed to space, and the other will be left on Earth for a comparison.
According to the SRTC, the TSS Project was inspired by an event that occurred on 2001, where now retired astronaut Yury Usachov ordered pizza from Pizza Hut in the International Space Station and got it delivered onboard a supply rocket sent to him. Other publicity stunts in which people have sent Big Macs and cookies to the edge of space via weather balloons have also inspired the project.
Neutron II is expected to launch on 2021 or 2022, "even later if there may be some setbacks to the construction of Neutron I or Neutron II".
Unconfirmed Future Projects[edit]
Neutron Orbit[edit]
The SRTC supposedly has plans for a rocket called Neutron Orbit, which is planned to succeed the launch of Neutron II. Not much is known about Neutron Orbit yet.
References[edit]
Coordinates: 27°30′37″S 153°15′32″E / 27.5102°S 153.2588°E
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