TEDD
TUMBLEWEED EXPERIMENT TO DEMONSTRATE DEPLOYMENT
Nothing can go to Mars without extensive testing – including our Tumbleweed Mars rover. We have applied for the upcoming REXUS/BEXUS cycle, where we hope to put the design of our deployment mechanism to the test.
SIMPLIFYING MARS LANDING
The goal of the Tumbleweed Mars Mission is to make Mars exploration faster, easier, and more accessible. One essential factor for reducing the cost of research conducted on the Martian surface is the use of a significantly simplified landing system for our swarm of wind-driven Tumbleweed rovers. This landing system consists of three phases:
ENTRY
of a capsule containing the Tumbleweed Mars rover into the Martian atmosphere.
DEPLOYMENT
of the rover from the entry capsule in mid-air. The rover unfolds into a large spheroidal shape and its sails help it act as its own parachute during the fall toward the surface.
LANDING
of the rover on the ground using its large structure to absorb the force of the impact.
TESTING ON EARTH
To demonstrate the functionality of the deployment system on Earth we need to achieve a similar velocity and atmospheric as the system would reach when used on Mars. We aim to do this with the REXUS/BEXUS Programme.
What is REXUS/BEXUS?
The Swedish-German REXUS/BEXUS Programme gives students the opportunity to launch technological experiments aboard sounding rockets and stratospheric balloons. With support from the TU Delft, we have submitted our proposal for the upcoming REXUS/BEXUS Cycle 15 launch in 2025 and have been invited to the Selection Workshop at ESA ESTEC. Learn more about the multinational programme here.
Why REXUS/BEXUS?
The opportunity to participate in a launch with REXUS would offer one of the most advanced tests possible prior to testing the Tumbleweed rovers on Mars itself. It would allow us to analyze one of the most essential stages of the Tumbleweed mission to ensure that the rovers safely reach the Martian surface.
TESTING ON EARTH
To demonstrate the functionality of the deployment system on Earth we need to achieve a similar velocity and atmospheric as the system would reach when used on Mars. We aim to do this with the REXUS/BEXUS Programme.
What is REXUS/BEXUS?
The Swedish-German REXUS/BEXUS Programme gives students the opportunity to launch technological experiments aboard sounding rockets and stratospheric balloons. With support from the TU Delft, we have submitted our proposal for the upcoming REXUS/BEXUS Cycle 15 launch in 2025 and have been invited to the Selection Workshop at ESA ESTEC. Learn more about the multinational programme here.
Why REXUS/BEXUS?
The opportunity to participate in a launch with REXUS would offer one of the most advanced tests possible prior to testing the Tumbleweed rovers on Mars itself. It would allow us to analyze one of the most essential stages of the Tumbleweed mission to ensure that the rovers safely reach the Martian surface.
OUR REXUS/BEXUS OBJECTIVES
Deployment Demonstration
By participating in the REXUS/BEXUS programme, we would want to test several aspects of our Tumbleweed’s design, with a main focus on deployment. The rover is loaded on the rocket in a folded configuration, and deployed in mid-air after re-entry. As the effect of aerodynamic forces on the structure during unfolding is poorly understood, this test will create valuable data for the further development of the system. A successful deployment will show the feasibility of the Tumbleweed Mars landing system.
Descent
As the unfolded Tumbleweed descends, we will monitor the velocity and stability of the rover as a reference for the aerodynamic design of future rovers.
Landing
The Tumbleweed rover is intended to withstand an impact with the ground at terminal velocity, to circumvent the need for a complex landing system.
Data Collection
To simulate a realistic mission scenario, the prototype Tumbleweed can carry instrumentation, demonstrating the collection of useful data after unfolding.
TEAM TEDD
Centred around the TU Delft, our TEDD members are working hard on making our vision a reality.
Lucas Cohen
Chief TEDD Engineer
Team Leader
Nils Neumeister
TEDD Project Manager
Guillaume Brault
Lead Rover Engineer
Rohit Roy Chowdhury
Engineer
Amelie Finan
Lead Outreach Officer
Mikhail Maximchuk
Engineer
Sabin Ilegitim
Engineer
Arun Osman
Engineer
Jakov Ostrouska
Engineer
Ben Placke
Lead Mechanical Engineer
Darius-Andrei Vicovan
Engieneer
I love rockets 🙂
omg me too! :3
JOIN TEAM TEDD
With our proposal submitted, we are all set for our the next step in testing the Tumbleweed rover. Sounds like just your thing? Check out our current vacancies and come along for the ride!
Hands-On Work
Unique Design
Have Your Work Launch
Motivated Team
Find more benefits on our Application Page!
OPEN POSITIONS
PAYLOAD ENGINEER
POWER ENGINEER
TMTC ENGINEER
GSE ENGINEER
EDV ENGINEER
OPERATIONS ENGINEER
TRAJECTORY ENGINEER
CDH ENGINEER
QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICER
PAYLOAD ENGINEER
POWER ENGINEER
TMTC ENGINEER
GSE ENGINEER
EDV ENGINEER
OPERATIONS ENGINEER
TRAJECTORY ENGINEER
CDH ENGINEER
QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICER
Should you have any questions or need more information please do not hesitate to contact us at office@teamtumbleweed.eu.