Rexus/Bexus

Each year, two REXUS rockets and two BEXUS balloons are launched from the Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden. A maximum of 20 experiments designed and built by student teams are flown every year. As of 2017, 147 experiments involving more than 1200 students from all over Europe were successfully launched. The launch vehicles are suitable for carrying research in various scientific areas such as atmospheric science, radiation physics, control systems, communication, aerodynamics and more.

REXUS rocket

REXUS rockets are launched from Esrange on an annual basis (nominally 2 rockets per year). The rocket is spin-stabilised and powered by 290 kg of an Improved Orion motor. The rocket can embed up to 40 kg of experiments to an altitude of 70 to 90 km. The peak acceleration of the rocket is about 17 g. A yo-yo de-spin system is used to reduce the spin rate of the rocket from 4 Hz to 0.08 Hz before reaching the apogee. The nosecone can be ejected during flight. As of March 2026, 36 REXUS rockets have been launched.

REXUS is part of the rocket family operated by the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA), a branch of DLR.