Cambridge University Spaceflight

What Cambridge University Spaceflight does

Cambridge University Spaceflight (CUSF) is a volunteer-run student engineering society at the University of Cambridge, founded in 2006, with the stated mission of launching a student-built rocket to space. Its technical portfolio spans sounding rockets (Martlet 1–4 series, with Martlet 4 at 110kg wet mass targeting 20km altitude), the Griffin 1 two-stage rocket intended to cross the Karman line at 150km using an in-house LOX/IPA liquid bipropellant engine (White Giant, 10kN), hybrid rocket motors (Pulsar, 5kN nitrous oxide/HDPE — the largest nitrous hybrid fired in the UK), and high-altitude balloon campaigns (Nova series, with Nova 19 setting a UK altitude record of 36,206m). Supporting this hardware, CUSF develops custom avionics (Joey-M, Wombat, DorMouse, M2FC, M2R flight computers, Lynx digital radio) and open-source simulation tools (Bamboo for liquid engine thermal/structural analysis, CamPyRoS 6-DOF trajectory simulator with Monte Carlo analysis), all released publicly via GitHub.

The society operates out of the Cambridge University Engineering Department and Whittle Lab, relying on in-kind sponsorship for components (PCBs from Cambridge Circuit Company since 2012, Radiometrix radios, Bronkhorst flow controllers, Cesaroni motors, Reaction Engines recruitment partnerships) and student volunteer labor. CUSF has no commercial revenue stream: it does not sell products or services, generates no disclosed revenue, has no funding rounds or external investors, and uses open-source distribution and community engagement (EARS, UKHAS) rather than a commercial go-to-market motion. Its customer segment is Cambridge University students, with sponsors functioning as component donors and talent-pipeline partners rather than paying customers.

Name

Cambridge University Spaceflight

Legal name

Cambridge University Spaceflight

Website

https://cusf.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cambridge University Spaceflight (CUSF) is a volunteer student society at the University of Cambridge, founded in 2006, that designs rockets, liquid and hybrid rocket engines, high-altitude balloons, flight computers, and open-source simulation software for the student and amateur rocketry community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur rocketry

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engine Modules & Hot-Section Components (Compressors/Turbines/Combustors) (IMABADAJ), Nozzles, Thrust Vectoring & Exhaust Systems (IMABADAL), Propulsion Test, Integration & Certification Services (IMABADAN)

Keywords

• Amateur rocketry
• Student aerospace engineering
• High altitude balloons
• Rocket engine design
• Open source simulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership and Sponsorship: CUSF is a student society funded through sponsorships and membership contributions. No commercial products are sold. The organization relies on sponsor donations of components (PCBs, radios, motors), workshop access at Cambridge University Engineering Department, and student volunteer time.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cambridge University Spaceflight (CUSF) is a student-run engineering society at the University of Cambridge that designs, builds, and tests sounding rockets, liquid and hybrid rocket engines, high altitude balloons, and custom flight avionics. Founded in 2006, the society has produced the Martlet rocket series, the Pulsar hybrid engine, the White Giant LOX/IPA liquid bipropellant engine, and the Nova high altitude balloon program, and is currently developing the two-stage Griffin 1 rocket targeting 150 km altitude. CUSF also releases open-source Python software tools (Bamboo thermal simulator, CamPyRos trajectory simulator) and is supported through corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations rather than commercial product sales.

Product overview

Cambridge University Spaceflight (CUSF) is a student society developing rockets and high-altitude balloon technology. Their portfolio consists of simulation and analysis software tools (Bamboo thermal simulation, CamPyRoS trajectory simulator), flight computer hardware (Joey-M, Wombat, DorMouse, M2FC, M2R), rocket projects at various scales (Martlet 1-4, Griffin 1, Aquila), liquid and hybrid rocket engines (White Giant, White Dwarf, Pulsar, Quasar), balloon projects (Nova), and specialized systems (Lynx digital radio, Daedalus hypersonic recovery). While primarily a university research group, CUSF releases open-source software tools and flight computer designs publicly through GitHub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bamboo Open source Python modelling package for analyzing thermal performance of liquid rocket engines; performs steady state thermal analysis, regenerative cooling system modeling, ablative and refractive cooling analysis, stress analysis, and engine performance calculations. Used by CUSF and released publicly for the amateur rocketry community.
• CamPyRoS (Cambridge Python Rocketry Simulator) Fully featured 6 degrees of freedom rocket trajectory simulator with Monte Carlo stochastic analysis, aerodynamic heating modelling, live wind data integration, and variable mass/moments of inertia. Used extensively during CUSF's rocket design process and released as open source on GitHub.
• Joey-M Flight Computer Experimental high altitude balloon flight computer using uBlox NEO-6Q GPS with Sarantel SL1202 passive antenna, Micrel MICRF112 434MHz ISM band 10mW FSK transmitter with varactor crystal pulling arrangement, and I2C EEPROM for configuration retention.
• Wombat Flight Computer Advanced flight computer payload for high altitude balloons with GPS, STM32 microcontroller, custom radio design with PLL, and image transmission capabilities.
• DorMouse Flight Computer Flight computer designed for rocket nose cone deployment featuring dual accelerometers (16g, 200g), barometer, uBlox GPS, SD card logging at 500Hz polling rate, XBEE radio for live data, and 72MHz ARM CPU (STM32 F103RFT6); board size 4x7cm.
• M2FC (Martlet 2 Flight Computer) Main flight computer for Martlet 2 rocket using STM32F405VGT7 microcontroller (168MHz, 100 pins); measures acceleration, rotation, altitude, and bearing; fires pyrotechnic devices; reads strain gauges and thermocouples; logs to SD card via SDIO interface and communicates with the radio board.
• M2R (Martlet 2 Radio Board) Radio communication board for Martlet 2 featuring STM32F303 microcontroller, uBlox Max-7Q GPS with ALM-2712 low noise amplifier, Radiometrix MTX2 FM transmitter (10mW, 434MHz), optional 500mW amplifier stage, ADuM1201 galvanic isolation, and RockBLOCK Iridium satellite modem backup.
• Lynx Digital Radio Experimental digital radio transmitter for high altitude balloons capable of data rates an order of magnitude above existing amateur systems; features ARM processor for error correction codes and signal processing with the goal of live video stream from balloon in flight.
• Griffin 1 Two-stage rocket project designed to reach 150km altitude (past the Karman line). First stage Panthera is powered by the in-house White Giant LOX/IPA liquid bipropellant engine; second stage Aquila uses a Cesaroni Pro98 solid motor. Equipped with the Daedalus hypersonic recovery system.
• Martlet 4 Single stage sounding rocket aiming to reach 20km altitude, well clear of the UK single stage altitude record of 11km; wet mass of 110kg, the largest in the Martlet series; powered by the Pulsar hybrid rocket motor (5kN nitrous/HDPE), designed and built from scratch by CUSF.
• Martlet 3 Rocket project under the Martlet series development by CUSF.
• Martlet 2 Rocket powered by an O-8000 Pro150 Cesaroni motor producing 8000N average thrust over a 5.12s burn; features a carbon fibre airframe (182mm inner diameter, 2mm wall thickness), custom M2FC flight computer, and M2R radio board.
• Martlet 1 Three-stage sounding rocket launched in May 2012 from Ben Armine, Scotland; each stage has a motor section and a parachute section with pilot and main parachutes.
• Aquila Second stage of the Griffin 1 project, named for its elegant bistable fin system; powered by a Cesaroni Pro98 motor with bistable fins and equipped with the Daedalus hypersonic recovery system; intended for 2022 recovery system testing.
• White Giant Engine 10kN in-house bipropellant liquid engine using LOX/IPA (liquid oxygen and isopropyl alcohol); the engine intended to power Panthera, the first stage of Griffin 1 to the Karman line; features a regenerative cooling system with copper inner liner and graphite nozzle insert.
• White Dwarf Engine Smaller scale liquid engine project using the same architecture as White Giant for testing principles; features a water cooling system with milled cooling channels, stainless steel casting, copper inner liner, and graphite nozzle insert; designed using the Bamboo simulation package.
• Pulsar Engine 5kN in-house nitrous oxide / HDPE hybrid rocket motor designed and built from scratch by CUSF; the largest nitrous hybrid rocket engine ever fired in the UK; successfully static fired in 2019 at Airborne Engineering Ltd's test facility.
• Quasar Engine Static hybrid rocket motor project with newly machined injector and nozzle components produced in the student workshop.
• Nova HAB Project Series of high altitude balloon projects; Nova 19 set the UK altitude record at 36,206m; flights carry custom flight computers (Joey-M, Wombat, Squirrel smartphone) and various payloads.
• Daedalus Recovery System Hypersonic recovery system for Griffin 1 designed to recover Aquila from 150km altitude; features a hemisflo drogue that changes shape with Mach number to produce lower drag coefficient at higher speeds; estimated top speed of 1150m/s; deployment uses CO2 push system with ringsail main parachute.

Quantifiable outcome

• UK altitude record: 36,206m with Nova 19 high altitude balloon
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability1 record

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reaction EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Oxford-based aerospace company developing the SABRE hybrid jet/rocket engine. Two lead engineers visited Cambridge to speak with CUSF members about SABRE Demo engine, Applied Technologies, and spin-out opportunities. Piotr Zulawski (Aerospace Lead in Applied Technologies) and Felix Newman (Senior Aerothermal Engineer) conducted presentations. Reaction Engines provides internship and graduate scheme opportunities to CUSF members.
• RadiometrixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors Martlet 2 with MTX2 radio modules. CUSF has used Radiometrix radios for many years on high altitude balloon payloads, achieving 700km range with 10mW transmit power. MTX2 modules feature frequency reprogrammability and compact size.
• Cambridge Circuit CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufactures PCBs for CUSF projects including flight computers (M2FC, Joey-M, Joey R2, Wombat, DorMouse, Lynx, Skunk, Dora). Has sponsored CUSF since 2012, providing rapid turnaround PCB fabrication services. Multiple PCB projects including radio boards, flight computers, and development boards.
• BronkhorstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoaned F-203AV mass flow controller for regulating helium filling of high altitude balloons. Helps improve accuracy of balloon predictions.
• Animal Motor WorksminorOthersSupplied the Cesaroni O-8000 Pro150 motor for Martlet 2. This is the largest certified motor available, producing 8000N average thrust over 5.12s burn time.
• Cambridge PrecisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor that manufactured prototype moulds for the Comet project using industrial standard autoclave and precision moulds. Mould was hand-finished and polished to mirror sheen with Teflon coating.
• HackvanaminorOthersManufactured stainless steel stencils for Joey R2 PCB assembly.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Reaction Engines: UK-based aerospace company developing the SABRE air-breathing rocket engine and a core CUSF sponsor / recruiter. Comparable as a UK propulsion prime in the same technology neighbourhood (advanced rocket propulsion), but at vastly greater scale and with a commercial mandate.

Direct peers

• RASAero: Long-standing commercial-off-the-shelf rocket trajectory and aerodynamics simulation package widely used in amateur and student high-power rocketry. Comparable to CamPyRos as a peer simulation tool serving the same audience.
• Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (EARS): UK community that organises amateur sounding rocket launch events at which CUSF flies Martlet vehicles. Comparable as the operating community and launch infrastructure layer for high-power amateur rocketry in the UK.
• MIT Rocketry Team: MIT's student rocketry team competing in high-power amateur and intercollegiate launch competitions. Comparable as another leading technical university rocketry team with custom propulsion, avionics and recovery systems developed by students.
• SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space): Global student-run non-profit supporting university chapters that build space hardware and run outreach. Comparable as the international peer community of student spaceflight organisations that CUSF sits within.
• OpenRocket: Open-source model rocket and amateur rocket flight simulation tool. Directly comparable to CUSF's CamPyRos and Bamboo tools as the dominant open-source software in the student/amateur rocketry workflow that CUSF contributes to and competes with.
• Copenhagen Suborbitals: Danish volunteer-led amateur rocketry organisation building crewed suborbital spacecraft on a non-commercial basis. Most directly comparable peer in mission and operating model: ambitious amateur rocketry, open-source documentation, no commercial sales.
• UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space): UK national body for university student space societies, organising events, conferences and projects across UK higher education. Directly comparable as the umbrella community for the same pool of student rocketry talent CUSF draws from and engages with.
• Stanford Space Initiative: Stanford University student-run space research and rocketry organisation. Comparable as a top-tier university student team building amateur rockets, high-altitude payloads and open-source tooling with similar structure to CUSF.

Regional players

• Skyrora: UK-based commercial small launch vehicle startup developing orbital rockets from Scottish facilities. Comparable as a UK-headquartered rocket developer operating in the same regulatory and supply-chain environment as CUSF, though at vastly different scale and with a commercial mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/cuspaceflight
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cuspaceflight
• Facebookfacebook.com/cuspaceflight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cuspaceflight
• Instagraminstagram.com/cuspaceflight
• Xx.com/cuspaceflight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cambridge University Spaceflight