Reprinted from CSIRO Space Industry News, No. 47, p. 5, August 1992. Payloads sought for AUSROC III ------------------------------ The Australian Space Engineering and Research Association (ASERA) is currently seeking expressions of interest for payloads for its AUSROC III launch vehicle. ASERA is a non-profit organisation engaged in encouraging and developing space engineering projects in Australia (more details next issue). The AUSROC rocket program started in 1988 when a group of Monash University students and amature rocketeers united to design and construct a small, fuelled rocket, based upon a design from the Pacific Rocket Society in the USA. This rocket - AUSROC I - was launched from the Graytown Proof and Experimental Establishment, Victoria. With considerable industrial sponsorship, several final year engineering students have designed and constructed AUSROC II as an official Monash University project. It is scheduled for launch from the Woomera range this year. The rocket is designed to reach an altitude of 12 km, and a range of 25 km. Its anticipated burn-out velocity is Mach 2.4. ASERA's current programs involve development of AUSROC III, a sounding rocket capable of producing an estimated 6 minutes of microgravity (max. altitude 500 km) for a fully recoverable payload of capacity 80-100 kg. Sounding rockets are used for atmospheric research, astronomy, materials and chemical science, and medical science. An AUSROC III nose cone may also be used as a microgravity drop capsule (a drop capsule typically encounters 60 seconds of microgravity) to be dropped from an ASERA high altitude balloon before AUSROC III is launched. The AUSROC team aims to use the payload space on AUSROC III and the drop capsules for relevant microgravity payloads. This provides the opportunity for researchers and senior students in universities and related institutes to construct, develop, test, and then fly a scientific payload. AUSROC III is scheduled for launch and recovery at the Woomera range in 1994 or 1995. There could be at least two drop capsule experiments in late 1993 and 1994. For further information on the AUSROC payload program, contact Ian French, Payload Manager on fax (06) 268 8886.