The Vlaamse Raket Organisatie (Flemish Rocket Organization) already has a long history.
The predecessors of our organization go back until the 1960's.
In this document you will find the milestones of our organization.

Location: Northern part of Belgium
Members: 33

Main topics:

• - Development of zinc-sulfur rocket motors with the aim to increase its specific impulse and reach 10 km
• - Development of KNO₃-sucrose-sorbitol motors
• - Development of H2O₂-petrol rocket engine
• - Development of Ammoniumperchlorate based rocket motors
• - Use of composite material motors

Major Milestones:

1967: Founding of the BVRO now named VRO. Before called RVD (as from 1962)

1967 - 1979: different static tests and flights with zinc sulfur both as a powder and hot cast.

Static tests with KNO₃-sucrose (34 of which 30 successful). Development of the CANDY, NEBEL and GX rocket motors.

1978: First use of sorbitol in combination with KNO₃ in order to reduce the viscosity of the mixture

1980: publication of the book: "Contribution to the knowledge of zinc-sulfur propellants"

1980: publication of the book "The potassium nitrate-sugar propellant" and first derivation of the burning rate relation for KNO3-sucrose.

1981: publication of the book "Ballistic trajectory"

1983: launch of the KIKKER

1988: launch of the GODDARD

1989: launch of the GOLDFINGER

1990: first motor tests with H₂O₂

1991: launch of the YOLT

1992: launch of the DART

1993: launch of THUNDERBALL, first youth project of the VRO

1996: launch of QUASAR

1996: start development of the VOX motors (first use of KNO3-sucrose-sorbitol)

1997: launch of PULSAR : first launch with VOX motor

1997: launch of ZENITH : first completely successful in-flight measurements

1998: start zinc-sulfur-aluminum research

1999: first launch of the GOLDEN SKY

1999: first successful test of cold H2O2 motor.

2001: first successful test of a H2O2-petrol rocket engine

2001: launch of the GOLDEN SKY with video pictures taken from the rockets

199.: successful test of an ammoniumperchlorate rocket motor

2001: publication of the book "Understanding zinc-sulfur propellants". A complete overview of both powders and cast grains.

2002: first test of the VITROX motor. This motor is entirely made of composite materials

2002: publishing of the article: "Simulation of potassium nitrate-sugar rocket motors". It is shown that KNO₃-sugar propellants can be subject to severe erosion, ignition delay; cracks.

2003: launch COLUMBO

2003: first successful test with PVC motor (KNO₃-dextrose)

2004: launch of AZIMUT

2004: launch of CASTOR-2

2005: launch of REDOX

2005: successful test of ZAS10-2 a 15 kg zinc-sulfur-aluminum cast propellant rocket motor with duration of more than 4s.

2005: optimal ratio between Isp and A_e/A_t for zinc-sulfur powder 3/1

2005: relationship established between C_f coefficient and pressure for zinc-sulfur

2006: record Isp for zinc-sulfur: 67s