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First Successful Launch with a Two-Stage Rocket!

 

(Watch the Scorpion Launch video on our home page or find the YouTube link here.)

As part of LetSpace’s long-term mission to build a rocket capable of crossing the Karman line, the team has developed multiple rocket iterations to test new systems and technologies. One of the most significant challenges in amateur rocketry is the development of a reliable two-stage rocket. While multi-stage rockets are essential for reaching higher altitudes, they introduce a substantial increase in technical complexity, from stage separation to ignition timing and recovery systems.

The Sub-scale Spaceshot Prototype 1 (S4P-1), otherwise known as Scorpion (pun intended), represented LetSpace’s first attempt at overcoming this challenge. Scorpion was designed as a major step up from Theodore, a single-stage rocket launched approximately one year earlier. Standing eight feet tall, this behemoth featured dual-parachute recovery systems on both stages, onboard velocity and altitude sensors, and live telemetry streamed to a ground computer. Compared to any previous LetSpace rocket, Scorpion was packed with advanced systems and ambitious design choices. Launching it, however, proved to be far more difficult than anticipated.

A Brief History of Attempted Launches

Although Scorpion’s design and construction, including its flight computers, were completed in just a few months, getting the rocket into the air became a long-term challenge. The first launch attempt took place in the spring of 2024. While the booster motor successfully ignited, the second stage failed to light, resulting in unsuccessful stage separation. A later incident during separation testing ruled out a second attempt that semester.

Another launch attempt followed in the fall of 2024, but connectivity issues with the onboard computer prevented the igniter from firing the booster motor on the rail. Despite having sufficient time remaining in the flight window, nearby parachute training conducted by Netherlands paratroopers prevented any additional attempts that day. By this point, it seemed that Scorpion was fighting the odds at every turn.

In the spring of 2025, Scorpion returned to Monroe, Louisiana for one final attempt. The rocket was assembled, the computers were connected, and Scorpion was placed on the rail. The first stage ignited. The stages separated. The crowd held its breath. Then, the second stage lit. Success! Overall, Scorpion had an apogee of about 5,000 feet.

This launch marked a major milestone for LetSpace and the conclusion of a long and challenging effort to launch a two-stage rocket of this scale. While the second stage was recovered, the booster unfortunately crashed into a tree and could not be reused. As a result, Scorpion will likely never fly again, but this is certainly not a long-term concern. In the year and a half between Scorpion’s conception and launch, LetSpace’s technology, experience, and capabilities advanced dramatically (see Minmus article). The next two-stage rocket will build on these lessons and represent a significant leap forward beyond Scorpion’s already ambitious design.