Project Nansen
Our goal was to launch and recover a reusable liquid-fueled rocket to an altitude of 5-8 km in Norway in 2026.
Similar to the previous projects NERO and Kon-Tiki, this project is building up to Portal Space’s vision. Based on the rising importance of the aerospace sector in humankind’s evolution to a space-faring civilization, Portal Space has chosen to further specialize in rocketry by developing a new sounding rocket.
Rocket systems
There are several major parts and systems needed to build and launch a full-scale rocket: propulsion system, structural system, electrical systems and ground systems.
Our members use their skills in software development, soldering, CAD, CAM, 3D-printing, CNC milling, crafting of composite materials, welding, turning and other power and machinery tools to build all systems in our own laboratory and workshop.
Thrust 7500 N
Diameter: 254mm – 274mm
Height: 6 m
Propulsion System
Nansen uses a bi-propellant, liquid-fueled engine running on ethanol and liquid oxygen. It produces 7.5 kN of thrust. The key features of our propulsion system are the custom-made injector plate, machined in-house, and the 3D-printed inconel combustion chamber.
Feed System
The system that stores and controls the flow of propellants to the engine. It consists of tanks, feed lines, several valves and a pressurization system. Nansen is pressure-fed using nitrogen to push propellants out of the tanks.
Injector Plate
Introduces the propellants into the combustion chamber, where they atomise and mix to produce efficient and stable combustion. Uses a swirl injector pattern with press-fit injectors machined separately in-house.
Combustion Chamber
Regeneratively cooled combustion chamber with a de Laval nozzle. It is printed in an inconel alloy with mounting points for the airframe and a welded port for a temperature sensor.
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Structural System
The structural system makes up the fins, the shell and frame of the rocket. It aims to provide stability, low aerodynamic drag and distribute the load from the generated forces.
Recovery
Includes two parachutes and two flotation devices to aid with safe recovery after launch.
During ascent, the drogue chute is deployed on apogee to slow the rocket to a safe speed before the main chute deploys.
The floatations devices inflate to provide a bouyant force once the rocket lands in water.
Airframe
Airframe provides structural support for the engine, parachutes and other components. It must withstand forces during launch, flight and recovery, ensuring the rocket does not flex along its axis.
The Nansen airframe is made out of aluminum stringers along the vertical axis and custom made circular frames at set intervals to hold the shape together.
Nosecone
The fins provide stability in flight to the rocket once it leaves the rail, ensuring it stays on its intended trajectory for the ascent path.
The fin system on the Nansen rocket consists of three fins mounted on a cylindrical fin can, separate from the main shell.
Shell
Covers the inner rocket from the elements and provides an aerodynamic surface for the vehicle. Originally planned to be glass fiber, an aluminum shell was calculated to have the same structural integrity and similar weight.
Fins
The fins provide stability in flight to the rocket once it leaves the rail, ensuring it stays on its intended trajectory for the ascent path.
The fin system on the Nansen rocket consists of three fins mounted on a cylindrical fin can, separate from the main shell.
Electrical System
The electrical system consists of multiple PCBs that work together, each with their own purpose. They power valves, sensors, servos, and telemetry for other propulsion and structural systems.
Rocket Control Unit
Most electronic subsystems mount on the Rocket Control Unit. It houses 5 add-on subsystems and interfaces with the Power Supply Unit, distributing power and facilitating data communication between subsystems and Mission Control
Mission Control
Communicates with the Rocket Control Unit to provide real-time data and remote control over the rocket.
Comes with a complimentary set of two 411 MHz Yagi antennas made fully in-house, intended for a relay station between Mission Control and the rocket.
Sensor Reader & Timer
Collects and logs data from various sensors: pressure, temperature and thrust. It consists of three PCBs placed at the top, middle and bottom of the rocket
The system's most critical tasks are real-time reports of propellant tank pressure and providing data for post-test analytics for the injection plate and combustion chamber
Engine Control Unit
Commands and sequences the engine's staging procedure, sending valve-position commands to the Main Valves and Solenoid Valves and requiring a position confirmation before advancing each stage.
Solenoid Valve Controller
Controls up to 8 solenoid valves anywhere on the rocket. The board is responsible for powering and toggling valves to pressurize tanks or vent propellants. Integrates directly with the Engine Control Unit via the Rocket Control Unit
Recovery
Deploys the rocket's two parachutes, main and drogue, via two independent microcontrollers. Each controller has its own trigger path: the main chute takes commands from Navigation or ground control, while the drogue chute is handled by a fully autonomous backup controller that detects apogee itself from its own barometric sensor, independent of the rest of the avionics stack.
Navigation
Intended to determine the rocket's position, orientation, and velocity in real time by fusing data from four sensors: GPS, a barometric pressure sensor, an IMU, and a magnetometer, feeding both recovery deployment timing and ground telemetry.
Power Supply Unit
The sole power source for the entire rocket; batteries feed in, PSU regulates and distributes power to every other board over redundant, automatically-switching input sources so no single battery or power path failing takes down the system. The system's most critical task is redundancy: if one battery or input source faults, the others should pick up the load with no manual intervention and no interruption to any downstream board.
