Advanced Rocket Research Center (ARRC), NYCU

The Advanced Rocket Research Center, or ARRC, is a rocket research group at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. It focuses on hybrid rocket engines and launch vehicles.

ARRC describes itself as an autonomous sounding rocket research organisation. It was set up at the university in 2012 and is funded by corporate and private donations. Its goal is to help Taiwan grow its space technology. The group wants to build carrier rockets that are designed and made in Taiwan. These rockets would show that the country can carry satellites and other science payloads to orbit.

The center works on hybrid rocket propulsion. In a hybrid rocket, a liquid oxidizer is injected into a combustion chamber that holds solid fuel. The fuel burns at its surface and mixes with the oxidizer. The center says the solid fuel is easy and safe to store at room temperature. If the container or chamber is damaged, the fuel will not explode. It also cites a technical report that gives a hybrid engine a TNT equivalent of zero.

ARRC says the engine can be safe, reliable and affordable. If the propellants use only hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen atoms, the exhaust is only nitrogen, water and carbon dioxide. The group calls this fairly friendly to the environment.

The website sets out what it believes makes a good orbital launch vehicle. The list includes thrust vector control, a simple engine that can be lit again, an engine that can throttle deeply, and a vacuum specific impulse above 300 seconds. It also lists precise navigation, guidance and control, a lightweight multistage vehicle, low cost with high reliability, and a hard real-time operating system.

The company has pages on news, history, sponsors, the mission, projects, technologies and a photo gallery. People can also give support through the university donation page.

Services

• Hybrid rocket propulsion research
• Sounding rocket development
• Launch vehicle research
• Rocket test programmes