Suborbital Flight of PERUN Rocket with Research Payloads
In autumn 2025, the suborbital rocket PERUN will lift off from the Central Air Force Range in Ustka, carrying a set of scientific and commercial experiments on board.
Mission Goals and Significance
The mission aims to validate the correct operation of the rocket system, integrate payloads with the launch platform, and conduct research and experiments under the dynamic conditions of launch and suborbital flight.
A launch from a Polish range marks a milestone in the development of national space technologies and the achievement of the first of four milestones within the European Space Agency (ESA) Boost! contract — a program supporting the advancement of European space transportation systems.
PERUN’s mission is more than a technological demonstration — it carries tangible scientific and commercial value. Onboard experiments will make full use of flight conditions, allowing institutions and companies to verify their concepts in a real suborbital environment.
The launch from Ustka will confirm the readiness of the PERUN system and the SpaceForest safety procedures that meet ESA’s strict requirements. The deployment of research payloads marks a historic moment for the Polish space industry.
Main Flight Objectives
- Execution and recovery of scientific experiments under suborbital flight conditions
- Validation of payload integration
- Verification of the Thrust Vector Control system
- Demonstration of the flight termination safety system
- Measurement of physical flight conditions (vibration, acceleration, temperature, pressure)
The launch window is scheduled for autumn 2025, with the Central Air Force Range in Ustka serving as the launch site.
Research Payloads – Science in Suborbital Conditions
For the first time in the history of Polish space technologies, the rocket will carry integrated research payloads and scientific experiments, prepared by academic, research, and commercial partners.
Their objective is to study the influence of launch and suborbital flight conditions — including vibration, acceleration, and microgravity — on materials, biological organisms, and technological components.
ThOR Project (Tremor Observation and Response)
#Biology #Astrobiology
Objective: To analyze how extreme conditions of suborbital flight — particularly vibration and acceleration — affect the survival and behavior of selected microorganisms and model organisms.
The experiment includes three organism groups:
- Algae (Chlorella, Spirulina, Porphyridium)
- Yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
- Fruit fly larvae (Drosophila melanogaster)
Scientific significance: Real-time recording of environmental parameters will enable researchers to observe biological responses to stress conditions and gather crucial data for the design of biotechnological life-support systems for future space missions.
The Challenge of Biological Payloads in Spaceflight
Transporting live biological material is one of the greatest challenges of modern space research. Payload integration typically takes place a month before launch, requiring species that can survive prolonged storage in suboptimal conditions.
The ThOR project introduces a new approach — testing various biological carrier configurations, both passive and active, including liquid, agarose, encapsulated, and lab-on-chip systems. Two separate chambers (21°C and 37°C) allow the study of different organism groups, and maintaining temperature stability in both zones serves as a valuable engineering test for this mission.
Organ-on-chip – biology and engineering in one system
A key component of the ThOR experiment involves Organ-on-Chip (OoC) technology — miniaturized tissue models that mimic human organ functions. The goal is to test how launch and acceleration affect bone tissue models developed with microfluidic systems containing MG-63 cells.
This research contributes to future space medicine and the development of physiologically relevant in vitro models without the use of animals.
About the Mission Partner
A research team from AGH University of Kraków, conducting studies at the intersection of biology and space technology. Students and researchers explore how extreme environments affect microorganisms and seeds. Their involvement in stratospheric and suborbital missions represents a vital step forward for Polish astrobiology.
RESQ – Study of the clamp force stability of the RESQ™ tourniquet under suborbital conditions
#Medicine #BiomedicalEngineering
Objective: The aim of the experiment is to verify the stability and reliability of the RESQ TOURNIQUET™ tactical tourniquet under the variable physical conditions of a suborbital flight — including dynamic acceleration and microgravity.
RESQ-Stab is the first medical-technology experiment in Poland conducted in suborbital space. Its purpose is to confirm the effectiveness and operational stability of the RESQ™ tourniquet in extreme conditions.
The effectiveness of the tourniquet has previously been validated in clinical studies and in simulator tests at the Military Institute of Aviation Medicine (WIML) under accelerations of up to 4G.
During the mission, two RESQ™ tourniquets mounted on cylinders simulating a limb will record changes in clamping force using strain-gauge sensors. The results of the experiment will support further development of Polish medical technologies for use in extreme environments — ranging from space missions to emergency rescue operations.
Project Partners:
- Military Institute of Aviation Medicine (WIML) – project leader
- Warsaw University of Technology – system concept and integration
- Military University of Technology (WAT) – manufacturing of structural housing components
- Cognes – development of IT solutions and measurement electronics
- RESQ™ tourniquet manufacturer – development of Polish rescue and civil protection technologies
About the Mission Partner
Military Institute of Aviation Medicine – leading Polish research and training center specializing in aerospace and space medicine.
Equipped with unique infrastructure — including hypobaric chambers, human centrifuges, and flight simulators — WIML studies how extreme environments affect the human body.
The Institute collaborates with NATO and ESA, supporting flight safety and space technology development initiatives.
PLUTONIC Receiver
#Electronics #Telecommunications
During the mission, the PLUTONIC receiver will be tested — an alternative time source to GPS, using the longwave signal of the Polish Radio Programme 1 (225 kHz). The device enables precise time synchronization even in areas affected by GNSS interference or signal loss, which is crucial for the operation of critical infrastructure and safety systems.
Data collected during the flight will demonstrate that access to this alternative time source is available over Poland at altitudes significantly exceeding the flight levels of various types of aircraft and drones. This will be an important step toward expanding the reliability of devices operating in environments exposed to GPS/GNSS jamming or spoofing, including airborne systems.
The PLUTONIC project was developed with funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Spark Funding Poland program.
About the Mission Partner
Blue Dot Solutions Sp. z o.o. is a Polish company specializing in the processing of satellite data and the development of dedicated systems and applications for land and maritime industries, urban areas, aviation, and the space sector.
The company also runs the Space3ac accelerator, which supports technology and research startups through mentoring and funding.
Additionally, Blue Dot Solutions operates the Kosmonauta.net space-technology portal and has extensive experience collaborating with space agencies and research institutions.
AstroBucha SCOBY – Microorganisms in Extreme Conditions
#Biology #Astrobiology #Biotechnology #SpaceAgriculture
This project examines how suborbital flight conditions affect SCOBY cultures used in biotechnology and functional food production. The objective is to analyze metabolic and structural changes in microorganisms subjected to acceleration and vibration. Results will help design closed-loop biosphere systems for long-duration space missions.
About the Mission Partner
AstroFarms – a pioneer in sustainable food solutions for long-term space exploration. The company combines biotechnology with aerospace engineering and is among the first Polish commercial entities focusing on the biological aspects of space exploration.
Toraf Seeds – Plant Germination Under Extreme Conditions
#Biotechnology #SpaceAgriculture
The experiment by TORAF aims to evaluate how short-term but intense conditions of launch, microgravity, and reentry affect seed vitality and development. Approximately half a million seeds will be carried aboard the PERUN rocket, enabling assessment of how different plant groups respond to suborbital flight.
Researchers will analyze germination rate, growth energy, seedling morphology, and development dynamics in accordance with phytobiological protocols. The findings will determine whether suborbital conditions can alter biological potential — for instance, accelerating germination or enhancing stress resistance.
This is the first stage of a broader research program exploring future microgravity agriculture.
About the Mission Partner
TORAF sp. z o.o. is a Polish seed company with over 35 years of experience, continuing traditions that date back to 1961.
TORAF specializes in vegetable, herb, flower, and sprouting seeds, combining agricultural heritage with modern research.
The company operates an accredited seed testing laboratory and collaborates with research institutions. TORAF’s products are distributed in over 20 countries worldwide.
PERUN Mission Validates Space-Grade Electronics
#AdvancedElectronics #Space-gradeTechnologies
The PERUN rocket will also carry electronic components and structural materials tested for vibration, acceleration, and temperature resistance. The goal is to validate the durability and reliability of Polish space electronics designed for future orbital missions.
The payload also includes adhesives and structural composites, whose behavior under dynamic flight conditions will yield valuable data for satellite and launch vehicle engineering.
SpaceForest – Polish Technology in Global Space Exploration
SpaceForest, a private company based in Gdynia, Poland, has been developing advanced radar, microwave, and rocket technologies since 2004.
The PERUN suborbital system, designed entirely in-house, is a reusable rocket developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).
Commercial Payloads – Demonstrating Innovation
Alongside scientific experiments, commercial partners are taking part in the mission to demonstrate innovative technologies under launch conditions and to promote industrial participation in Poland’s growing space sector. Details will be shared soon in a follow-up article dedicated to the commercial payloads carried on the third flight of the PERUN suborbital rocket.
Join the PERUN Mission
The autumn mission payload selection is now closed, but preparations for the next flights are already underway.
If you wish to participate in upcoming missions — become a PERUN Mission Partner!
Submit Your Payload
PERUN launches in Poland, Portugal, and Denmark are coming soon! We invite universities, research centers, companies, and startups to submit scientific experiments, technology demonstrators, educational projects, and commercial initiatives.
Become a PERUN Mission Partner!
Official mission patches available at: shop.perunrocket.com