Testing · 28 Sept 2026
Flying ASTRO-1 twice on candy motors: what we learned
Two flights on team-built motors in Saudi Arabia shaped the way we test ASTRO-2.
Why candy motors
ASTRO-1 was built for the 2025–2026 Space Grant Midwest competition. Flying it at home on team-built candy motors let us test the full vehicle without shipping energetics.
What we carry forward
- Flying the complete vehicle early finds integration problems that bench tests miss
- Recovery and tracking get exercised under real conditions
- The same motor family will fly ASTRO-2's systems flight in January 2027
Next
ASTRO-2's first flight test is planned for 30 January 2027 in Saudi Arabia.