Florence

2023 - 2024

Project Leads

• Team Leads: Neel Pawar & Jack Gardiner
• Chief Engineer: Will Borden
• Business Lead: Nikiforos Tsourvakas

Project Description

Florence, ARES’ entry to the 2024 Spaceport America Cup in the 30,000 ft commercial-off-the-shelf category, is the team’s most successful rocket to date. Florence was ARES’ first single-diameter rocket, a decision made to avoid structural failures akin to that of Deimos in 2023. This required an increased overall diameter which necessitated a single-separation recovery scheme, which ARES developed in conjunction with local Melbourne skydivers. Florence was also the team’s first rocket featuring air brakes, a system which used model-predictive control to dynamically extend and retract control surfaces allowing precise apogee targeting. Florence launched to an altitude of 29,782 ft, placing ARES 2^nd in the 30,000 ft COTS category and 4^th overall out of 152 teams.