During that period, efforts focused on refining objectives, sourcing suppliers, conducting tests, and building the necessary infrastructure to support the launch.
Two minutes before launch, engineers were still rewriting telemetry code. Then the countdown began, and the launchpad fell silent.
For the Technology Innovation Institute team, the successful flight of the UAE’s first homegrown hybrid rocket represented the culmination of more than two years of simulations, supplier trial-and-error, and meticulous system integration. The moment of collective relief came when the rocket split cleanly in two and descended safely under parachute, marking a historic milestone for the nation’s aerospace ambitions.
The project began by assembling a deliberately diverse team. “We brought together experienced experts and young talent, and established a clear roadmap,” said Dr. Elias Tsoutsanis, chief researcher at TII’s Propulsion and Space Research Centre. From the start, the team identified key risks related to manufacturing and supply chains, especially since components were being produced at prototype scale rather than mass production.
“For this kind of technology, suppliers had to adapt their capabilities to produce components for entirely new applications,” he explained, describing what he called a learning process for both engineers and manufacturers. The decision to pursue local manufacturing, he added, ultimately paid off, resulting in a fully homegrown system.
From there, the work shifted into extensive testing. “We had to design a very thorough test procedure with multiple iterations,” said Dr. Elias Tsoutsanis. This involved simulations, repeated ground tests of the rocket motor, integration with the launch pad, and multiple firing trials while the rocket was already mounted.
Before liftoff, every system had to be rigorously verified. Control, hydraulic, and telemetry systems were tested and retested, with troubleshooting and system integration at the heart of the effort.
“System integration itself is a project of its own,” he noted, emphasizing that its complexity is often underestimated and cannot be fully replicated through simulations.
The rocket was supported by a multidisciplinary team of 15 propulsion, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, alongside computer science specialists. Several team members were UAE nationals, each responsible for critical systems such as telemetry, control pathways, launch pad operations, and software to operate valves and sensors.
One of the earliest challenges was determining whether local suppliers could meet the precision required for prototype components.
“We had to iterate several times to reach the level of quality we wanted,” Tsoutsanis said, describing close collaboration with manufacturers to refine parts before integration. Advanced materials researchers also played a key role, producing carbon-fibre components that provided the structural strength necessary for the rocket.
UAE’s First Homegrown Rocket: From Concept to Launch
As launch day approached, the pressure intensified. With a fixed target date, the team often discovered additional tasks late in the process. “When you get close to launch, you realise that you need to do extra work because something might not have been taken into consideration,” said Dr. Elias Tsoutsanis.
The most emotionally charged moment came just before liftoff. “If you observe people involved in a rocket launch, especially before the countdown starts, you see that everyone is in silence,” Tsoutsanis described. “They go into their own mood, fingers crossed, hoping everything goes well.”
Relief followed once the rocket left the launch pad and telemetry confirmed it was reaching altitude specifications. But the defining moment came during recovery. At its highest point, the rocket separated into two sections connected by a parachute. Onboard cameras provided visual confirmation of both parts descending safely. “When we saw the parachute and the two pieces floating, there was a very strong feeling of relief,” Tsoutsanis recalled.
Recovery was critical. “It was very important to recover all parts of the rocket to record the data, verify performance, and make sure everything went as planned,” he explained.
Not all risks were technical. Ignition timing allowed only a narrow window of a few seconds for all systems to align correctly. Telemetry—“the brain of the rocket system”—had to operate flawlessly, ensuring every component communicated reliably while the rocket was controlled remotely. Even two minutes before launch, engineers were still coding and verifying telemetry aspects, a moment Tsoutsanis highlighted as particularly memorable.
From concept to flight, the project took just over two years. During that time, the team refined objectives, identified suppliers, conducted extensive tests, and built the infrastructure needed to support the launch.
Looking ahead, Tsoutsanis described the mission as just the first step. Using flight data from this test, the team plans to scale the rocket to higher altitudes and larger payloads, enabling more advanced experiments and contributing to future launch vehicle development.
“Sounding rockets naturally evolve into boosters,” he explained, outlining a long-term path toward small satellite launch capability.
