Project Excelcius

The flagship mission of LetSpace is to send a rocket into internationally recognized space, or above the Karman Line (100km, 62 miles or 328,000 ft): Project Excelcius. The Excelcius launch vehicle will be a fully-reuseable, two-stage, solid-fueled sounding rocket, entirely designed, built and operated by undergraduate students, including motors and flight computers. It's primary objective is to return video and pictures of the Earth from space. Currently, Technology Demonstration Rockets (TDR) and Sub-scale SpaceShot Prototypes (S4P) are being produced to develop th technologies and techniques needed to design and build such a vehicle, as well as enhance organizational experience. The STELLA flight computer has already been mostly completed and is gaining reliablilty with every test flight. The Trepid program is developing flyable high-power rocket motors, which will pave the way for the motors for Excelcius' flight.

Project Trepid

Project Trepid is LetSpace's motor development program. LetSpace anticipated the need for custom motors for a spaceshot and has been working to develop the capabilities for such a motor's construction since 2023. The project has three phases.

Phase 1: Develop low-power rocket motor. This involves mixing propellent, creating a test stand and developing nozzle machining practices and techniqies. Completed 2024.

Phase 2: Develop a high-power rocket motor. This required scaling up the machining and propellent casting. Recorded thrust of the motor for the first time. Completed 2025.

Phase 3: Fly the Phase 2 rocket motor in a real rocket flight. In Progress.