ARD, home

Adept Rocketry Division · Adelaide University

Students who design, build and fly high-powered rockets.

ARD is Adelaide University's student rocketry team: founded in 2018, around 85 students strong, and the only university rocketry team in South Australia. We compete at the Australian Universities Rocket Competition (AURC), where Project Kronos placed 2nd in the 10,000 ft COTS category in 2026.

Join ARDSponsor a rocket

Project Kronos

Kronos

● Flown

AURC 2026 · 10,000 ft · COTS propulsion

2nd

Take it apart →
Founded
2018
Students (approx.)
85
High-powered rockets launched
30+
AURC 2026 · 10,000 ft COTS
2nd

Tier 1 · Launch partner

  • Adelaide University logo

    Adelaide University

    ARD represents Adelaide University at the Australian Universities Rocket Competition.

01Rockets

The fleet

From Level 2 test-beds to Project Kronos. Open any rocket and take it apart, component by component.
All rockets

01/05 rockets

  1. 01 · 2026Flown

    Project Kronos

    Kronos

    2nd · AURC 2026

    Explore rocket

  2. 02 · 2025Flown

    Project Myriad

    Myriad

    4th · AURC 2025

    Explore rocket

  3. 03 · 2025Flown

    Project Lightning

    Lightning

    4th · AURC 2025

    Explore rocket

  4. 04 · 2024Retired

    Project Myriad (2024)

    Myriad 2024

    4th · AURC 2024

    Explore rocket

Mission log

  • Kronos stands vertically on the launch rail beside a small tree in scrubland, with a pad marker sign reading "A" in the foreground.
    01On the rail, AURC 2026.
  • In a workshop, team members gather around the upright Kronos rocket while two of them kneel to work on its lower body section.
    02Working on Kronos in the workshop.
  • A team member in a face shield stands beside the navy Myriad rocket mounted on a blue launch rail, with "MYRIAD" lettering running up the body.
    03Pad preparation, AURC 2025.
  • Under a shade tent, team members lean over a long table to assemble the red Kronos rocket, its white KRONOS lettering visible along the body.
    04Final assembly at AURC 2026.
  • A large group of team members poses in front of a black shade tent on red dirt, with an Australian flag and two rockets standing upright among them, one navy and one red.
    05The team at AURC 2025.
  • A red and white parachute lies spread over low scrub, with a red rocket body section on the ground further back.
    06Recovered after flight, AURC 2026.
  • A line of team members stands on red dirt in front of the Myriad rocket mounted vertically on its launch rail.
    07At the pad, AURC 2025.
  • Team members sit and stand around a wooden workbench with laptops in a large, brightly lit workshop.
    08Team members sit and stand around a wooden workbench with laptops in a large, brightly lit workshop.

02 · Students

Build a rocket. No experience required.

ARD is open to all Adept members, and no prior experience is required. Join a sub-team, from aerostructures and avionics to flight systems, ground station and payload, and design, build and fly high-powered rockets with a team that competes at a national level.

Join ARD

03 · Sponsors

Back South Australia's university rocketry team

Engineering firms, defence and software companies, schools, universities and government: put your name behind the next ARD rocket and meet the engineers who build it.

Sponsor ARD

Tier 2 · Flight partner

  • Neomech logo

    Neomech

  • The Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith Fund logo

    The Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith Fund

  • Robinson Aerospace Systems logo

    Robinson Aerospace Systems

  • LEAP Australia logo

    LEAP Australia

  • Ansys logo

    Ansys

  • Altium logo

    Altium

04Awards

Results on the board

Placings at the Australian Universities Rocket Competition, and an industry award from Lockheed Martin Australia.
All results

  1. 2nd

    AURC 2026

    2nd place, 10,000 ft COTS

    10,000 ft · COTS propulsion · Kronos

    Source ↗ (opens in a new tab)

  2. ★

    AURC 2025

    Award for Technical Excellence

    Industry award

    Source ↗ (opens in a new tab)

  3. 4th

    AURC 2024

    4th place, 10,000 ft COTS

    10,000 ft · COTS propulsion · Myriad 2024

    Source ↗ (opens in a new tab)

05Technology

Built in-house

The systems ARD designs and builds itself, and how each has evolved from rocket to rocket.
All technology
A large group of team members in black ARD shirts stands on the steps of a sandstone and red-brick building, with the front row holding the Kronos rocket horizontally.

The crew

Around 85 students. Six sub-teams. One rocket.

Aerostructures, avionics, flight systems, ground station, payload and integration work as one team from first sketch to recovery, alongside the Vulcan hybrid-engine and composites projects.

Join the teamAbout ARD

06Sponsors

Our sponsors

The organisations that help ARD get off the ground.
Sponsorship

Tier 3 · Supporter

  • Engineers Australia
    Engineers Australia
  • Fleet Space
    Fleet Space
  • BOC logo
    BOC
  • Spray Nozzle Engineering logo
    Spray Nozzle Engineering

Previously supported by

  • AIML
    AIML
  • Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources
    Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources
  • DEWC Systems (Asension)
    DEWC Systems (Asension)
  • Lockheed Martin
    Lockheed Martin
  • REDARC
    REDARC
  • SAGE
    SAGE

T-minus

Ready for launch?

Join the team, or help put the next rocket in the sky.

Join ARDSponsor ARD