REXUS / BEXUS (Rocket-borne Experiments for University Students/Balloon-borne Experiments for University Students) is a program created in 2007 by the Swedish Space Agency (SNSA) and the German Space Agency (DLR) in cooperation with the European Space Agency. REXUS / BEXUS focuses on scientific research carried out by students using high-altitude balloons and sounding rockets that are launched from Esrange Space Center in Sweden. For 10 years 147 experiments took place.

SPACE PL has a patronage on one of experiments that are in the programme this year. LUSTRO, because this is the name of it, is created by a team from the Warsaw University of Technology. LUSTRO stands for Light- and Ultraviolet Strato- and Tropospheric Radiation Observer and it was created by Studenckie Koło Astronautyczne existing at the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology.

The main goal of the experiment carried out as part of the REXUS / BEXUS program is to check what modifications take place in the radiation when the weather conditions in the stratosphere change. First of all, how the effect of cloudiness and differences in atmospheric density affect the intensity of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Data obtained from the experiment can be used to create a three-dimensional radiation imaging. The main sponsor of the project is a company associated in the SPACE PL – PCO inc.

Each of the experiments in REXUS / BEXUS must undergo a procedure consisting of 5 parts: a preliminary review, a critical review, build and test of the experiment, final preparation and data analysis and reporting.

From year to year, representatives of Polish universities are more and more willing to take part in this program. As part of the 11th cycle of the REXUS / BEXUS program, in which the LUSTRO project is taking part, also two other teams from Poland will participate – from the Gdańsk University of Technology with the HEDGEHOG experiment and from the Wrocław University of Technology with the TRACZ experiment.

The mission of the Association is to support the development of the personnel of the space sector, and therefore actively follows the actions of Polish students, among others in the REXUS / BEXUS program. The program allows to gain significant experience and is most often the beginning of an entrepreneurship in the space sector, an example of this can be a member of SPACE PL – company Scanway Ltd. which play a role of mentors for TRACH and HEDGEHOG teams.

We wish good luck to all teams taking part in this year’s edition of REXUS / BEXUS!