Now in our 22nd year of running, CranSEDS is a branch of UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space), comprised of students who are passionate about space, technology, and all that comes with it, competing across disciplines in both the UK and Europe.
Offering students of any background hands on experience of projects from varying altitude rocketry, and advanced rover design, to conceptual design research or even engaging in outreach to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts. Every member of CranSEDS is passionate about building their expertise in the ever-growing space sector, actively engaging and contributing to this exciting field.
 |
IOSM 24/25This year, the CRANSEDS IOSM team developed an innovative business idea in the in-orbit service and manufacturing field, proposing OrbiStore, a LEO-based data storage satellite constellation. The concept was born from the growing global demand for data storage and the environmental impact of terrestrial data centres. One of the key challenges the team tackled was designing a viable solution that addressed the significant power requirements in space. By opting for a constellation model, we aimed to ensure scalability and redundancy. The project was presented at the UKSEDS IOSM competition during the IASM Conference at ICC Belfast, where the team proudly secured 2nd place for their innovative and sustainable approach. |
|
|
|
National Rocketry Competition 24/25The National Rocketry Championships (NRC) 2025 goal was to design and launch a rocket capable of reaching 2,500 ft (750 m) while carrying two payloads – one provided by the United Kingdom Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS) and another developed in-house by the team. Stellarion rocket weighed 730 grams and reached an altitude of 2,048 ft (628 m) despite challenging wind conditions of around 15 – 20 mph. The in-house payload included Teensy 4.0, MPU6050, DPS310, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and Raspberry Pi Camera V2 and powered by a 1S4P battery pack. |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Race 2 Space 24/25The hybrid rocket engine has been a core project of CranSEDS for the past 3 years. Designing, building, and firing a rocket engine within the short timeframe we have here at Cranfield is a challenge, and it is only through the Race2Space competition that we have this opportunity. In past years, the project has had success in understanding the basics of hybrid rocket propulsion. This year we challenged ourselves to develop a flight-weight propulsion system that could be flow in a rocket. This meant quadrupling the thrust of last years engine, designing a tank and feed system all while using lightweight materials. |
|
|
|
Mach-25This year, we again participated in the Mach-X rocket competition. As part of CranSEDS desire to innovate, we pushed our technical expertise to develop a multi-motor rocket. The cluster of five solid-rocket motors required an entirely new strategy to integrate into the rocket. We built a custom internal structure that deviated from typical practices and manufactured our own composite body around it. This is our largest rocket by volume, and we aim to launch it multiple times in the future for paying customers and component development. |
 |
|
|
|
 |
ORT 24-25This year’s challenge simulated a Mars exploration mission — navigating autonomously, identifying rock samples using QR codes, extracting valuable data, and transmitting it wirelessly, all while logging travel for mission analysis. At the UKSEDS ORT Competition 2025, our ORT team clinched two major awards:
Last year, our team's hard work paid off with a fantastic overall first place in the competition, bringing home two trophies from Airbus' Stevenage site and Mars Yard.
In this national-level competition, the team showcased outstanding engineering prowess, delivering incredible results across two challenging tasks. |
|
|
|
Solar UAVThe CranSEDS Solar UAV project is a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at developing a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle for Arctic summer environmental monitoring. The team successfully designed, built, and flight-tested a 3-meter wingspan prototype that integrates solar energy harvesting, onboard power management (using MPPT and BMS), and a Raspberry Pi-based computer vision payload. The system enables intelligent, autonomous operations with real-time object detection and data transmission via LoRa, tightly integrated with the ArduPilot flight stack for perception-aware navigation. Flight tests demonstrated continuous power output of 30–50 W, with peaks up to 100 W under optimal sunlight, validating key design assumptions. Beyond its technical achievements, the project emphasised outreach and education by involving high school students in developing the UAV’s vision software. This provided a hands-on introduction to aerospace engineering and supported women in STEM initiatives. The project showcases the potential of clean, intelligent UAVs for long-endurance missions in remote regions and lays the foundation for future scalable, autonomous systems. |
 |
CranSEDS visited Satellite Applications Catapult’s Satuccino in February 2025. This was the first step in our road to establishing professional relationships with UK-based space companies. CranSEDS aims to be on the bleeding edge of student-led space activities and having personal and technical connections to those companies is key in achieving that.
The Race2Space 2025 Workshop offered a valuable platform for our Race2Space team to engage with experts, industry sponsors, and fellow competitors in the field of rocketry. The day began with a welcome address by Alistair (Race2Space) and a sponsor talk from Orbex, followed by technical sessions from leading professionals.
Airborne shared practical insights into bi-propellant systems and lessons from LOX hot-fires. The Falcon Project discussed solid motor testing at Race2Space, while Protolaunch reflected on hybrid propulsion challenges and achievements. Lunch and networking fostered collaboration across teams and disciplines. In the afternoon, student teams presented their projects, showcasing innovation and technical rigour. Overall, the workshop served as a springboard for the Race2Space 2025 competition, inspiring the next generation of space engineers.
CranSEDS had an exciting presence at the NSSC’25 event organised by UKSEDS in Leicester. We hosted a networking table to engage with aspiring space enthusiasts and share insights into our ongoing projects. Members attended insightful talks by industry leaders on cutting-edge space developments. Our UAV team collaborated with GDST for a hands-on workshop, showcasing our current work.
Committee members participated in the UKSEDS Annual General Meeting, while lunch and evening socials provided valuable one-on-one time with professionals. The event concluded on a high note as CranSEDS proudly received the Project of the Year Award at the UKSEDS Annual Awards.
Recently, the CranSEDS team visited Airbus CubeSat Day at Airbus Stevenage, organised by UniCOM. The day featured insightful presentations from Airbus graduates and interns, followed by two engaging talks - one on CubeSat development using off-the-shelf components and another on systems engineering and the importance of the V-model in satellite design.
A highlight of the visit was an exclusive site tour, showcasing honeycomb panel assembly, high-precision quartz production, and the impressive Mars Yard! The event concluded with presentations from various universities, where teams showcased their CubeSat and CanSat projects, fostering collaboration and innovation in the space sector.
At the international aerospace webinar, CranSEDS presented its mission, past accomplishments, and future aspirations to an audience of students from Europe, Taiwan, and Colombia. The team showcased its role in driving student-led innovation through ambitious space projects and collaborative engineering efforts. The presentation covered key past and ongoing initiatives. CranSEDS also outlined its vision to strengthen global partnerships and expand technical expertise in upcoming competitions and research collaborations. The webinar featured participation from prominent organisations such as ONERA, Taiwan Tech University, and Thales, facilitating valuable exchanges between academic and industry experts.
CranSEDS recently conducted a workshop at Biddenham International School to inspire primary school students in the fields of space technology and STEM. The session opened with a brief history of space exploration, highlighting humanity’s key achievements from the dawn of rocketry to contemporary space missions. Students eagerly took part in a hands-on design activity, where they collaborated to discuss and sketch plans for a moon base, fostering creativity and teamwork.
A detailed rocket teardown followed, offering a rare opportunity to explore aerospace engineering up close. The workshop also featured a lively question-and-answer segment, allowing students to deepen their understanding of rocket science. To conclude, CranSEDS introduced students to a variety of exciting career paths within space and STEM industries, encouraging them to consider future opportunities in these rapidly evolving fields.
The Race2Space Symposium 2025 united students, industry professionals, and space enthusiasts for a day of learning and collaboration. Exhibitors, including CranSEDS’ Race2Space team, arrived early to set up their stalls in the marquee, where CranSEDS proudly showcased their successfully fired hybrid rocket engine, drawing significant interest. The team was honoured with the opportunity to present their engine to NASA astronaut Mr. Dan Tani, who also featured as a keynote speaker.
The event featured key addresses by Richard Harrington (Buckinghamshire Council), Andy Ratcliffe (UK Space Agency), and Dan Tani. Student teams followed with concise two-minute presentations outlining their projects. After lunch, attendees engaged with poster exhibitions and networking, before participating in tours of the J-site and Airborne Engineering facilities at Westcott. The symposium celebrated innovation and inspired the next generation of aerospace leaders, with CranSEDS demonstrating the power of student-led engineering.
CranSEDS hosted a vibrant space-themed party open to all university students, bringing together space lovers for a night of fun, music, and creativity. The event featured cosmic decorations, themed activities, and an energetic atmosphere that celebrated our shared passion for space. A highlight of the evening was the Best Space Costume contest, where the winner received an exciting prize from CranSEDS.
CranSEDS will be hosting a social night to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our members throughout the year. The evening will provide an opportunity to reflect on the success of our projects, share highlights from the year, and strengthen our community. We also recognised the outstanding contributions of several members with awards, celebrating their dedication and impact on society.
CranSEDS will also be hosting a movie night exclusively for its members, offering a fun and relaxed evening to enjoy a great film together. It's a chance to take a break from project work, connect with fellow members, and build a stronger community within the society.
 |
President & Treasurer - Jorge Morales Reyes, j.moralesreyes.522@cranfield.ac.uk The President is the external face of the CranSEDS: they coordinate the day-to-day running of the society and liaise with existing and potential sponsors and collaborators. |
|
|
|
 |
Vice-President - Charlie Warner, charlie.warner.805@cranfield.ac.uk The Vice-President supports the President in the running of the society. They will liaise with external organisations and may organise industry visits and talks. |
|
|
|
 |
Social Media Communications Officer - Rohit Nagar, rohit.nagar.150@cranfield.ac.uk The Head of Social Media and Comms' role is to maintain a consistent presence on social media platforms, showcasing CranSEDS' activities. They will liaise with the rest of the committee and with a designated contact in each project team to generate content. |
|
|
|
 |
Outreach Officer & Workshop Manager - Esme Griffiths-Nowicki, esme.griffiths-nowicki@cranfield.ac.uk The Head of Outreach is responsible for liaising with local schools and youth groups to provide workshops, talks, and sessions to young people in the local community. The Workshop manager is responsible of looking after the lab and keeping inventory of our equipment. The manager works closely with the technicians and PMs to ensure optimal working conditions for every team. |
|
|
|
 |
Outreach Officer & Social Secretary - Sanjana Karkera: sanjana.karkera@cranfield.ac.uk The Head of Outreach is responsible for liaising with local schools and youth groups to provide workshops, talks, and sessions to young people in the local community. The most important committee member! The social secretary plans and coordinates CranSEDS' social events - from launch watch parties to darts nights. |
|
|
|
 |
Membership - Kishor Kumar, kishorkumarkasanya@cranfield.ac.uk The Membership secretary's role is to maintain an up-to-date list of society members and to answer questions from potential and existing members. |
Our contact details: