Kuwait Space Rocket project

[Philip the Arab]

Kuwait’s Space Rocket
The Kuwait Space Rocket ( KSR ) is a suborbital launch vehicle to be developed and launched in Kuwait. The project will be the first step towards starting a space industry in the country and a launch service provider in the GCC region.

In a time period of two years we aim to test and successfully launch KSR up to 100 km in the atmosphere, This launch will be a historical first for the GCC. Our plan is to develop KSR to be a suborbital research platform, and then afterwards use it as a stepping stone to develop a smallsat launch provider.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1298907265123127297

http://instagr.am/p/B6fWwZBBDw4/

 

[Philip the Arab]

• Goals
  
  1. Launch KSR to an altitude of 100 km.
  
  2. Utilize KSR as a vehicle for university students and researchers to send scientific experiments into suborbital space.
  
  3. Use the KSR launch to develop the technology required for starting a future orbital rocket company.
  
  
• 
  KSR Launch Plan
  In order to launch KSR to space we will have to build and launch various smaller rockets to validate our systems and engine components.The KSR Rocket Family includes 2 major rocket configurations based on a Nitrous/Methanol Pressure Fed Liquid Rocket Engine.
  
  
  
  
  KSR-1
  
  
  KSR-1 is a vertically-launched single stage rocket. It uses a liquid bi-propellant rocket engine burning methanol as fuel and nitrous oxide as the oxidizer.
  
  KSR-1 is intended to be a test vehicle for the development of KSR-2, the goal of which is to reach space. As such, all the major components and technologies that are expected to be used in KSR-2 are present in KSR-1.
  
  The main components of KSR 1 are the engine—consisting of the injector, nozzle, and cooling jacket— with fuel and oxidizer tanks, a nitrogen gas tank, and various valves and pressure regulators.
  
  
  
  
  
  KSR-2
  
  The KSR-2 is a planned liquid bipropellant suborbital launch vehicle .It is the second installment of the KSR Rocket Family, composed of a single stage,fueled by Nitrous Oxide and Methanol.
  
  KSR-2 has a total length of 4m a diameter of 0.4m and a total mass of 591 Kg, it’s apogee is around 100 Km.

 

[Philip the Arab]

@Sinan @Cabatli_53 @T-123456 @Nilgiri
This may interest you guys considering the region is not very well known for developing technology like this. I hope it can be successful and develop into an orbital rocket for Arab and African market.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Here is the full team of 3 people, I think they are planning to expand. I have seen their reddit posts and many people are eager to join the group but it will take some time.

http://instagr.am/p/CD8ucFUha67/
Cold Flow test

Injector static testing

Engine components

The KSR-1 engine was built locally in Kuwait and it utilizes a pressure fed cycle. The engine utilizes the nitrous not only as an oxidizer but as a cooling agent, that flows around the nozzle and back into the injector again.[5]

 

[Agha Sher]

Good luck, Kuwait! God knows how much respect I have for this little country.

 

[Gary]

So this is like the Kuwaiti version of Copenhagen Suborbitals...

 

[Philip the Arab]

So this is like the Kuwaiti version of Copenhagen Suborbitals...

Well Denmark is much more developed than Kuwait so kind of.

This is their goal from 2 months ago.

The purpose of the launch is to further develop a Suborbital rocket KSR-2 with an end goal of becoming a launch service provider in the MENA region. KSR-1 is our test vehicle, we learn, gain experience and test our engine designs and parachute ejection mechanisms etc.

 

[Gary]

Well Denmark is much more developed than Kuwait so kind of.

This is their goal

The purpose of the launch is to further develop a Suborbital rocket KSR-2 with an end goal of becoming a launch service provider in the MENA region. KSR-1 is our test vehicle, we learn, gain experience and test our engine designs and parachute ejection mechanisms etc.

No what I mean is .......this supposed to be a hobby, crowd funded, volunteer force rocketry program isn't it? Not a government funded one.

 

[Philip the Arab]

No what I mean is .......this supposed to be a hobby, crowd funded, volunteer force rocketry program isn't it? Not a government funded one.

I think they are hoping for some type of government funding in the future. I'm not 100% sure and you could be right.

 

[Gary]

I think they are hoping for some type of government funding in the future. I'm not 100% sure and you could be right.

Good luck and all best wishes

 

[Philip the Arab]

Good luck and all best wishes

Same to Indonesia if that route is pursued and it should be considering the size of your nation.

 

[Philip the Arab]

There is also cooperation with a Turkish company I know nothing about if someone would help identify them.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1265698054654570496

 

[Oublious]

Buruc is nothing but a startup, they should not join and do something with Kuwaiti company. Waste of time and money.

Hakkımızda - Buruc Havacılık ve Uzay

Buruc Havacılık ve Uzay Türkiye’nin Havacılık ve Uzay sektöründe ki eksiklerini gidermek amacıyla Eylül 2018 yılında kurulmuş ve şirketleşmeyi hedefleyen bir girişimdir. Başlıca hedefleri arasında dikey inişli sıvı yakıtlı roketler yer almaktadır.

buruchu.com

 

[Philip the Arab]

Buruc is nothing but a startup, they should not join and do something with Kuwaiti company. Waste of time and money.

Hakkımızda - Buruc Havacılık ve Uzay

Buruc Havacılık ve Uzay Türkiye’nin Havacılık ve Uzay sektöründe ki eksiklerini gidermek amacıyla Eylül 2018 yılında kurulmuş ve şirketleşmeyi hedefleyen bir girişimdir. Başlıca hedefleri arasında dikey inişli sıvı yakıtlı roketler yer almaktadır.

buruchu.com

Haha, I mean they may be able to become a successful company in the future. Never say never.

 

[Nilgiri]

• Goals
  
  1. Launch KSR to an altitude of 100 km.
  
  2. Utilize KSR as a vehicle for university students and researchers to send scientific experiments into suborbital space.
  
  3. Use the KSR launch to develop the technology required for starting a future orbital rocket company.
  
  
• 
  KSR Launch Plan
  In order to launch KSR to space we will have to build and launch various smaller rockets to validate our systems and engine components.The KSR Rocket Family includes 2 major rocket configurations based on a Nitrous/Methanol Pressure Fed Liquid Rocket Engine.
  
  
  
  
  KSR-1
  
  
  KSR-1 is a vertically-launched single stage rocket. It uses a liquid bi-propellant rocket engine burning methanol as fuel and nitrous oxide as the oxidizer.
  
  KSR-1 is intended to be a test vehicle for the development of KSR-2, the goal of which is to reach space. As such, all the major components and technologies that are expected to be used in KSR-2 are present in KSR-1.
  
  The main components of KSR 1 are the engine—consisting of the injector, nozzle, and cooling jacket— with fuel and oxidizer tanks, a nitrogen gas tank, and various valves and pressure regulators.
  
  
  
  
  
  KSR-2
  
  The KSR-2 is a planned liquid bipropellant suborbital launch vehicle .It is the second installment of the KSR Rocket Family, composed of a single stage,fueled by Nitrous Oxide and Methanol.
  
  KSR-2 has a total length of 4m a diameter of 0.4m and a total mass of 591 Kg, it’s apogee is around 100 Km.

This is ambitious. Good luck to the team....GCC govts should organise more and get more startup teams...good dedicated seed funds at universities they have and also commit investment into the research programs and capital+consultants needed for that.

I worked with one UAE guy in college on cpl projects, a good friend and very smart cookie (he did lot of good work on reaction wheel design actually)...but they need the organisation and structure back home when they have that interest/passion in the field otherwise they either stay here in West (to pursue it and then they get family commitments etc) or if they go back home they just fill into a regular big energy job or construction sector etc.

 

[Philip the Arab]

This is ambitious. Good luck to the team....GCC govts should organise more and get more startup teams...good dedicated seed funds at universities they have and also commit investment into the research programs and capital+consultants needed for that.

I worked with one UAE guy in college on cpl projects, a good friend and very smart cookie (he did lot of good work on reaction wheel design actually)...but they need the organisation and structure back home when they have that interest/passion in the field otherwise they either stay here in West (to pursue it and then they get family commitments etc) or if they go back home they just fill into a regular big energy job or construction sector etc.

Egypt is actually developing a lot of satellite subsystems, and the satellites themselves as well as pretty much being the main development country in the African space agency. Althought not in the GCC, it will likely be a major space power for MENA within the next 10 years.

And yeah, I agree there needs to be more startups, and investment into the team and others that are innovating.. The team will expand probably and many people were interested in joining the team on the teams posts on reddit. There is also the military aspect, the rocket with the apogee of 100km would theoretically be able to function as a SRBM if adapted for payload and reduced range at 150-160km factoring in the 1:2 apogee to range rule of thumb.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Got more details about the program straight from the source.

KSR-1A is already finished and is above in the video being tested. KSR-1B will have stronger engine and be used for testing subsystems for KSR-2 suborbital rockets. Both will hopefully be launched in 2021 but KSR-1A is finished I think. Both use pressure fed engines with Methanol as fuel, and Nitrous Oxide is a oxidizer.

KSR-2 is suborbital like I said before using Methanol as fuel and Nitrous oxide as oxidizer and is pressure fed via nitrous and hopefully it will begin in 2022, and be finished by 2024. KSR-3 is a planned orbital rocket planned to start in 2025.

 

[Nilgiri]

Got more details about the program straight from the source.

KSR-1A is already finished and is above in the video being tested. KSR-1B will have stronger engine and be used for testing subsystems for KSR-2 suborbital rockets. Both will hopefully be launched in 2021 but KSR-1A is finished I think. Both use pressure fed engines with Methanol as fuel, and Nitrous Oxide is a oxidizer.

KSR-2 is suborbital like I said before using Methanol as fuel and Nitrous oxide as oxidizer and is pressure fed via nitrous and hopefully it will begin in 2022, and be finished by 2024. KSR-3 is a planned orbital rocket planned to start in 2025.

We need more arab members here to discuss. *nudge nudge*

 

[Philip the Arab]

We need more arab members here to discuss. *nudge nudge*

I'll try again, I think there being Turkish members on this forum that they weren't fond of is one of the reasons they may not join.

 

[Yoyo]

Actually, it's not a bad idea for Middle Eastern countries to leave their disagreements aside and at least start a civilian organization like EUTELSAT and operate their own communication satellite network. If we contract with global satellite developers/launchers together for all our comsat and infrastructure needs, we can have tremendous bargaining power and really bring down satellite and operating costs. And that's only one of the benefits.

Turkey can later use this platform to develop, sell and launch satellites for this existing market, much like what France has done in Europe.