The Balloon lifts the rocket to 32km altitude
This is above 99% of the earth’s atmosphere
Less air density means less thrust required for the rocket
Only a small rocket is required resulting in smaller operating costs
Safer ground operations
Huge ground infrastructure not required
Andrew Dunn and Ben Massey are Aerospace Engineering students at Teesside University. During their 2nd year they became involved in a project now called TU2Space. It is here that they met Shaun Whitehead, a Space Engineer!
TU2Space is a student led project within the School of Science Engineering and Design at Teesside. The project was initiated by Shaun after he approached the University with the basic concept of developing a small space launch system for a femto-satellite called Thumbsat.
Andrew and Ben are student project managers of the TU2Space project and have recently co-founded a start-up business, StratoBooster. Their business plans are to commercialise their work from TU2Space with the aim of further researching and testing their current work and developing the small space launch system for customers, who have already expressed interest in using this system.
Co-Founder
Andrew is a co-founder of StratoBooster Ltd and is currently a final year Aerospace Engineering student at Teesside University. Andrew works as a Student Ambassador for the university, working with the external partners hosting events, engaging with local schools and the community. He is also a STEM ambassador and enjoys promoting STEM related education in the younger generation to inspire our future scientists and engineers. He enjoys volunteering and helping others and has spent time abroad providing humanitarian assistance and support to those in need. Andrew has held a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) since 2012 and enjoys most things related to aviation and space.
Co-Founder
Ben is a co-founder of StratoBooster Ltd and currently studying his final year of a Aerospace Engineering degree at Teesside University. Ben also works as a student ambassador for the university and has volunteered as a PASS (Peer Assisted Study Session) Leader, assisting engineering students, at Teesside University, with their learning. For the past two years, Ben has been serving in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force as an RAF policeman, which involves air platform and operational security as well as ceremonial duties.
Consultant
Shaun's devices have looked half way across the known universe, landed on Mars and even peered into hidden cavities within the Great Pyramid. His favourite projects are Thumbsat, Vitae, a sculpture for the Moon and StratoBooster in association with TU2Space. Shaun has a BEng in Mechanical Engineering, he is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the IMechE.
Lower operating costs than other space launch providers
Flexible launch locations, from a beach to a field
There isn't currently any small launch systems
Effects of weather on balloons are minimal, resulting in a robust ground launch system
There hasn't been a commercial space launch from UK soil
We aim to be the first to do that