BOOMERANG - REXUS

The BOOMERANG project from KTH aims to demonstrate an autonomous return to launch site functionality after performing plasma measurements in Earth's ionosphere. The experiment will be launched in March 2024 from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden. It features the design of a free falling unit (FFU), capable of performing measurements on plasma and electric fields in near-earth space. The FFU will be ejected from the REXUS rocket at an altitude of approximately 55-60 km to perform its measurements. Normally, the FFU is landed using a parachute and retrieved via a costly helicopter search. The innovative vision for BOOMERANG is to design a deployable glider solution, enabling autonomous gliding flight back to Esrange.