Maser (rocket)

MASER is a sounding rocket that is used in the MASER microgravity research rocket programme, operated by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC). The main customer is the European Space Agency (ESA), particularly the EMIR and ELIPS programmes. MASER stands for "MAterials Science Experiment Rocket".

The launches take place at Esrange in Northern Sweden. Throughout its sub-orbital flight, the programme offers 6–7 minutes of microgravity aboard the rocket and full recovery of experimental modules with helicopter immediately after flight.

Missions Mission Date Launch site Motor Apogee Payload ModulesCommentsReference reportMASER 1 1987 Mar 19 Esrange Black Brant 9B295 km MASER 2 1988 Feb 29 Esrange Black Brant 9C318 km MASER 3 1989 Apr 10 Esrange Black Brant 9C297 km CIS-1, TEM 06-15 MASER 4 1990 Mar 29 Esrange Black Brant 9B317 km CIS-2 MASER 5 1992 Apr 9 Esrange Black Brant 9309 km CIS-3 MASER 6 1993 Nov 4 Esrange Skylark 7 243 km 372 kg 5/ESA Esrange EKMA93-12MASER 7 1996 May 3 Esrange Skylark 7 252 km 355 kg 4/ESA Esrange EUK113-9616 MASER 8 1999 May 14 Esrange Skylark 7 260 km 334 kg 4/ESA Esrange SUM8251-D18MASER 9 2002 Mar 16 Esrange Skylark 7 258 km 347 kg 3/ESA Esrange SUM92-S14MASER 10 2005 May 2 Esrange Skylark 7 252 km 350 kg 4/ESA 441st and final SkylarkEsrange SUM1025-S8MASER 11 2008 May 15 Esrange VSB-30 252 km 383 kg 5/ESA Esrange EUK175-E60MASER 122012 Feb 13 Esrange VSB-30 250 km390 kg MASER 132015 Dec 1Esrange VSB-30 260 km277 kg MASER 142019 Jun 24Esrange VSB-30 260 km400 kg MASER 14MASER 152022 Nov 23Esrange VSB-30 260 km270 kg

Biological scientific endeavors As humans subjected to weightlessness or microgravity undergo physiological changes, there is an increasing interest in biological research. Aside from the material science aspect being investigated aboard the MASER13-15 rockets, biological modules aim to fulfill this purpose and elucidate this side of space-related research.

Maser (rocket)

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