HARTS

We are HARTS (Hybrid Atmospheric Re-entry Thermal Shield), a team from the Faculty of Aeronautics at the Technical University of Košice, proudly representing Slovakia as the first Slovak team to participate in the REXUS 35/36 program. We aim to develop a hybrid heatshield that combines the passive protection of ablative materials with active cooling. The hybrid heat shield makes use of the structural strength and repeatable usability of composite heat shields and compensates for their high conductivity and lack of ablation with helium cooling used to pressurize fuel tanks. This technology is designed to improve spacecraft reusability and reduce the cost of space access while providing a safe and reliable protection from the elements. We plan to launch the heat shield on an ejectable experimental capsule on a REXUS sounding rocket to an altitude of ~85 km in March 2026 which will provide us with important insights into the function in real-world atmospheric descent conditions, allowing us to improve hybrid shield technology.