GOETZE safety valves ensure reliability and safety in student space travelSuccessful rocket launch at EuRoC 2024

The student workgroup for rocketry and spaceflight (WARR) at the Technical University of Munich celebrated a historic success at the European rocketry competition EuRoC 2024 in Portugal. The EX-4B rocket was the first to achieve a successful launch with a cryogenic oxidiser system – an important technical milestone in European student space travel.

As a reliable partner for high-quality safety components, GOETZE played a key role in this project with its safety valves.

Liquid oxygen and ethanol – a challenging fuel combinationTechnical innovations of the EX-4B: A biliquid system for maximum performance

The EX-4B is based on a liquid-propellant propulsion system, and thus relies on one of the most sophisticated technologies in the field of rocketry. Ethanol is used as fuel, while liquid oxygen (LOX) serves as an oxidant. While this combination offers high performance, it also presents particular technical challenges.

Cryogenic requirements: Liquid oxygen requires precise timing when filling the tanks, as the oxidant boils off quickly under ambient conditions.
Combustion chamber feed: A pressurised gas system with nitrogen (60 bar) is used to precisely deliver fuel and oxidant to the combustion chamber.
Reliable safety: Built-in safety components such as the GOETZE high-pressure safety valve 492 reliably prevent overpressure situations and ensure maximum operational safety.

The precise coordination of these complex systems was crucial for the successful launch of the rocket.

GOETZE safety valves: reliability for critical applications.

During refuelling, there was a brief overpressure situation, which the valve reliably defused: it opened at the pre-set pressure and then closed again securely. Without this precise function, the launch could not have taken place.

Jannes Hildebrandt, a team member of WARR Rocketry, emphasised: ‘The GOETZE safety valve did exactly what it was supposed to do. Without this reliable component, we would not have launched.’

The collaboration with GOETZE emphasises the importance of high-quality safety components for innovative projects in the field of space travel.

Facts and figures Technical successes and numerous awards

The successful launch of the EX-4B was not only a great technical success, but also earned the WARR team important awards at EuRoC 2024:

European first flight with a cryogenic oxidiser

WARR is the first European student team to successfully launch a rocket with liquid oxygen.

Team Award

An award for outstanding collaboration and team spirit.

Payload Award

For the scientific experiment to study the luminosity of algae under microgravity conditions.

L3 Award (Liquid 3K Category)

For reaching the planned flight altitude of 3 kilometres.

Higher, lighter and more efficient: the next goal for WARR RocketryOutlook: the next generation – EX-4C on its way to the 9K category

After the success of the EX-4B, the WARR team has set itself a new goal for 2025: The EX-4C rocket is designed to reach the 9K category (9-kilometre altitude). Targeted technical developments are planned for this purpose:

Weight reduction:
The switch from aluminium to carbon tanks (Type 5) should significantly reduce the mass of the rocket.
Decentralised flight control:
An innovative concept in which the central control unit is replaced by segmented modules. This saves weight and reduces the complexity of the cable harness.

These ambitious goals require precise planning, innovative technologies and reliable partners like GOETZE to reach new heights.

GOETZE is proud to have contributed to the reliability and safety of this project with its high-quality safety valves. Together, we look forward to an exciting future of reaching new heights and pushing technological boundaries.