A particularly important and technological lead for aerospace data was recorded by the student group Aerospace ASAT (Aristotle Space and Aeronautics Team), the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Aristotle University Polytechnic School. The largest student group in Greece successfully completed the static tests of the first, publicly documented, Greek liquid propellant rocket engine, which was designed and developed entirely by ASAT members.
Critical tests were carried out from April 2026 until today, in a closed, controlled field of Northern Greece. The most demanding part of the tests included a series of consecutive cycles of ignition and combustion. In this way, the integrity and dynamics of this highly innovative project, which is something new to Greek data, were confirmed.
During the process, the engine remained stable on the ground, allowing the group members to collect pressure and temperature data, while recording the engine's produced thrust, but also to accurately check the flow of propellant fluids under real conditions.
Real-time data collection, processing and management was undertaken by the system's central computer, the MOP (Main Operations Platform). It is a 100% in-house high standard electronic tablet, based on advanced Xilinx FPGA SoC architecture.
The technical characteristics of the engine are as follows:
- Propellants: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Ethanol
-Produced Osse: 5,500 N
-Boil pressure: 40 bar
- Feeding system: Advanced pressure-fed network with operating pressures up to 300 bar
Development: 100% in-house design and implementation (from scratch)
Apart from the hard effort and talent of ASAT members, successful completion of this project would not be possible without the necessary resources. Specifically, funding came from 70% of company sponsorships, as well as from the Special Research Funds Account of the Aristotle University.
The successful completion of the static test and the completely safe operation of the system now open the way to the next major milestone of ASAT: the first flight of the new, stronger rocket, with an altitude exceeding 5 km and a speed of 1.5 Mach.