ARIS, the Swiss Academic Space Initiative, proudly announces the successful conclusion of Project PERSEUS, a Swiss student-led effort to advance rocket propulsion technology. On November 16, 2024, the team completed two successful test firings of their Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), marking a innovative milestone. Team PERSEUS is the first team in Switzerland to successfully fire an RDRE and the first student-led group worldwide to demonstrate this advanced propulsion system.

Led by an interdisciplinary group of eleven students from ETH Zurich and Fachhochschule OST, Team PERSEUS combined expertise in engineering, data acquisition, and rocket systems. Supported by ARIS’ infrastructure and a network of experienced advisors, the team focused on designing and testing an RDRE, a rotating detonation rocket engine. RDRE is a revolutionary engine type that uses detonation waves traveling at supersonic speeds to generate thrust, offering up to 20% greater efficiency and reduced weight compared to traditional rocket engines.

The primary goal was to validate the operation of RDRE technology on ARIS’s test bench, a mobile test facility to test the rocket engine, as a proof of concept. By adapting existing experimental designs and refining them for their setup, the team successfully achieved stable engine operation. The data collected during the tests confirmed the presence of rotating detonation waves, an essential component of RDRE functionality and the cornerstone that sets this technology apart from previous accomplishments. The work of almost six months and over 8000 hours has paid off for the students.

Looking ahead, ARIS is now setting its sights on Project PEGASUS, a follow-up initiative aimed at taking RDRE technology a step further by integrating it into a sounding rocket.
“With Project PERSEUS, we have not only demonstrated the potential of RDRE technology but also set the stage for Switzerland to emerge as a key player in advanced propulsion systems”, said Simi Wespi, Project Manager of PERSEUS. “This is a proud moment for ARIS and a steppingstone to future innovation.”