Systems · 07 in-house
Technology.
The systems ARD designs, builds and flies itself, and how each one has evolved from rocket to rocket.
01·SYS-AV · Avionics
Latest step: 2026
Avionics
SRAD flight computers, telemetry and power, from dual COTS altimeters to a three-board CAN stack.
Lineage · 7 steps
02·SYS-AB · Airbrakes
Latest step: 2026
Airbrakes
Active apogee control: tabs that deploy in flight to trim a rocket's climb to its target altitude.
Lineage · 4 steps
03·SYS-RC · Recovery
Latest step: 2026
Recovery
Parachute systems that bring every rocket home, from black powder to CO2 pyro-pneumatics.
Lineage · 6 steps
04·SYS-GS · Ground station
Latest step: 2026
Ground station
A fully SRAD tracking station that follows the rocket and predicts where it will land.
Lineage · 2 steps
05·SYS-PL · Payload
Latest step: 2026
Payloads
Science on board: CubeSat experiments and sensing payloads, built by students.
Lineage · 4 steps
06·SYS-MF · Manufacturing
Latest step: 2026
Composites
In-house fibreglass airframes, made on ARD's own composite spinner.
Lineage · 2 steps
07·SYS-PR · Propulsion
Latest step: 2026
Project Vulcan
ARD's own hybrid rocket engine, working towards its first static fire.
Lineage · 2 steps