FARGO is a conceptual continuation of Papell and deals with the use of ferrofluids to solve technical problems in space. Hence the name, Ferrofluid Research goes Orbital. Various experiments were conducted to apply for a place on the ISS with Überflieger 2.

SOURCE (Stuttgart Operated University Research Cubesat for Evaluation and Education) is a 3U+ CubeSat from KSat and the Institute of Space Systems (IRS), which is scheduled to launch in 2026. In addition to technology demonstrations and Earth observation, it will use high-resolution sensors to measure the lower Earth atmosphere. Valuable measurements will also be taken during its re-entry before the satellite finally burns up at the end of its life.

SOURCE-2 is the successor project to SOURCE and has recently entered development. Compared to SOURCE, SOURCE-2 will be twice the size, allowing us to implement additional payloads and proprietary technologies such as ferrofluid reaction wheels.

FerrAS (Ferrofluid Application Study) is a conceptual continuation of Papell and FARGO and deals with the use of ferrofluids to solve friction-related problems in space. The experiments are designed to investigate low-friction concepts for components on board attitude control and coolant systems that are otherwise susceptible to wear. FerrAS is our fourth experiment in the REXUS program.

FINIX is part of cycle 33/34 of the German-Swedish student program REXUS/BEXUS. The aim of this experiment is to test further space applications of ferrofluid. If everything goes according to plan, our experiments will launch in 2025 on a REXUS rocket from northern Sweden, building on the successful flights of our previous ferrofluid projects PAPELL and FARGO. FINIX is our fifth and current REXUS experiment.

BUBBLE (BUoyancy Balloon Bus Lifted Experiments) is our high-altitude research balloon program. We provide the bus system that supplies a KSat internal or external payload. We also organize and carry out the launch. In addition, we allocate payload space to our sponsors, which means that the project is partially self-financing. To simplify payload recovery, we have further developed BUBBLE into PARSEC.

PARSEC (PArafoil Recovered Stratospheric Experiment Carrier) is an advanced version of our existing BUBBLE weather balloons, which we have been using to fly our own and commercial payloads for a long time. PARSEC is designed to steer the payload, which crashes after the weather balloon bursts, toward a safe landing site with the help of an autonomously operating paraglider.

ATHENE (Autonomous Terrain Handling and Environmental Navigation Experiment) is our first rover project and allows us to take our first step toward space robotics. The rover is primarily used to promote young talent and is used at numerous events to demonstrate autonomous navigation and chassis design. In the future, we would like to build on the knowledge gained from this project and participate in the European Rover Challenge with additional rovers.

ROACH (Robotic in-Orbit Analysis of Cover Hulls) is our second experiment as part of the REXUS/BEXUS program. The ROACH team successfully submitted an application for the REXUS 23/24 cycle in fall 2016. The rover on board a REXUS module adheres to metallic tracks even in zero gravity with the aid of electrostatic pads. ROACH was completed in 2018. The follow-up project is ROACH 2.

ROACH2 is the further development of our ROACH rover, which can travel on surfaces in zero gravity with the aid of electroadhesion. Our experiment consists of two components that are installed in a high-altitude research rocket: our autonomous rover with electroadhesion and an obstacle course that our rover has to navigate.

With the MICU project, we developed a camera for a lunar rover to make moon rocks fluoresce using UV radiation, thereby identifying possible minerals. MICU is intended to support NASA’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Payload” Challenge and will be used on a small rover as part of the Artemis mission.