Our Team
At PWr in Space, we are a team of over 100 passionate students at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, driven by a shared interest in space engineering and innovation. As part of our flagship project, PoliWRocket, we design and build experimental sounding rockets capable of carrying research payloads to targeted altitudes.
Our team brings together students at different stages of their academic journey, combining diverse skills to tackle real engineering challenges. We have successfully participated in international competitions across Europe and the United States, while continuously improving our designs and capabilities. Alongside our engineering work, we actively engage in many initiatives such as ESA Academy programmes and industry conferences, where we share our research and connect with the wider space community.
TANWA System Upgrade
Over the past year, our transition towards a liquid-propellant engine required a major redesign of nearly every subsystem of the rocket. As a result, one of the systems that underwent the most significant transformation was TANWA, our electronic system responsible for propellant fueling and mass measurement.
In order to improve its reliability and usability, we redesigned TANWA with the support of the RS Student Project Fund in 2025. The upgraded system was then validated during the European Rocketry Challenge 2025 in Portugal, where it performed reliably throughout the entire event without major interventions.
Power System Challenges
However, during development, we encountered significant power-related challenges. The solenoid valves operated by TANWA required six coils, each consuming approximately 18-20 W, resulting in a total current draw of around 6-7 A, which exceeded the capabilities of available voltage converters. To address this limitation, we used RS support to acquire a dedicated DC converter and designed a separate power line for the solenoids, significantly improving system stability during the competition.
Despite this improvement, we observed that the battery powering TANWA was still being drained too quickly during operation. This led us to further redesign the power architecture by implementing an external 230 V supply system, including an AC/DC converter, circuit breakers, and safety switches. These upgrades significantly increased operational safety and reliability, bringing the system to a new level of maturity.
Mission Control Development
Building on the experience gained during testing and competitions, we identified additional subsystems requiring further development. One of the most critical was the communication system and Mission Control, whose limitations ultimately prevented us from launching at the EuRoC 2025.
In response, funding for the 2026 season under the RS Student Project Fund will be allocated to the development of a new communication module. This project aims to create a modern Mission Control system enabling simpler, safer, and more reliable rocket operations under a wide range of conditions.
Looking Ahead
The first major test of this system will be the European Rocketry Challenge 2026 in Portugal!
Follow our progress as development continues :)
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