DLRmagazine 179 (March 2026)

The ATHEAt research rocket, shown here awaiting its launch in Andøya, Norway, is 13.5 metres long. It is powered by two engines: the lower stage, known as RED KITE, is a very powerful solid rocket motor developed by DLR in cooperation with the company Bayern-Chemie. The second stage uses a Canadian ‘Black Brant’ rocket motor. This combination is particularly well suited for microgravity and hypersonic research. The payload sits at the tip of the rocket, serving both as a research experiment and a heat shield. With ATHEAt, DLR is investigating reusable components for space transportation vehicles, including the challenges associated with atmospheric re-entry.

DLRmag179_EN.pdf (PDF / 7 MB)