The Chair of Carbon Composites developed and implemented a manufacturing concept for a module made of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer for a sounding rocket. The structural component was now launched on 4 March as part of the REXUS 23 rocket and thus was the first module of its kind to prove its airworthiness.

Further information can be found here:

• “A giant leap in rocket weight savings”, K. Mason, Composites World, 01/2019.
• “Manufacturing of a Thermoplastic CFRP Rocket Module with Integrated Fiber Optical Temperature Sensors“, R. Engelhardt, J. Oelhafen, S. Ehard, A. Kollmannsberger, K. Drechsler, 29th SICOMP Conference on Manufacturing and Design of Composites, Luleå, Sweden, 28 May 2018.
• “Space Travel – Thermoplastic CFRP-Module for a Sounding Rocket with Integrated Fiber Optic Sensors is ready for Liftoff”, R. Engelhardt, Carbon Composites eV Magazine, January 2018.
• “Fiber-reinforced plastics in rocket construction”, A. Battenberg, TUM press release, 27 February 2019.