WUT student awarded distinction in the SIMP competition

The event was attended by the competition winners, their supervisors, teachers, headteachers, and principals of technical schools, as well as representatives of SIMP branches, members of the association's authorities and statutory bodies, and members of the competition committees. Among the invited guests were Prof. Robert Zalewski, PhD, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs at WUT, and Ewa Mańkiewicz-Cudny, President of FSNT-NOT.

The gala was opened, and the guests were welcomed by Prof. Tomasz Chmielewski, PhD, President of SIMP and Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at WUT. During the event, Jakub Lasocki, PhD, from the Faculty of Automotive and Construction Machinery Engineering delivered a lecture on fuel research for engines.

Korneliusz Szalkowski Recognised for His Engineering Thesis

Among the distinguished works was an engineering thesis titled "Design of a Payload Ejection Module for a Sounding Rocket", authored by Korneliusz Szalkowski, Bachelor of Science,  a master's student at the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering at Warsaw University of Technology, specialising in Aerospace Engineering. The thesis was supervised by Jacek Gadomski, PhD.

The goal of the project was to develop a preliminary design of a payload ejection module for the Twardowsky 2 rocket, which is being developed within the Rocketry Section of the Student Astronautical Association. Such modules are responsible for storing and deploying payloads, such as scientific experiments, at the rocket’s apogee. In space technology, similar solutions are used for satellite separation in orbit.

The project involved the first design iteration of the module, taking into account the rocket’s strict technical requirements, including spatial and weight constraints as well as maximum accelerations. After analysing various technical concepts, a four-link mechanism resembling a classic scissor jack was chosen. This design ensures low retaining force in the closed position and minimizes the load impact during ejection.

Prototype Image and CAD Model Development

A CAD model of the device was created, with a particular emphasis on manufacturability. The structural integrity analysis of the most critical components was conducted, followed by the prototype development, which allowed for the validation of theoretical assumptions through dynamic ejection tests.

Inspiration and the Role of Engagement in Student Research Groups

As the author of the thesis highlights, his primary inspiration for tackling this topic stemmed from his involvement in the Rocketry Section of the Students' Space Association (SKA), where he primarily worked on mechanical aspects.

"Participation in the student association perfectly complemented the knowledge gained during my studies, giving it a practical dimension, which is often valued by employers during recruitment. However, the most important aspect of this journey was the opportunity to work with incredibly talented colleagues who always provided support and inspiration. This is evident from the rather lengthy acknowledgments section at the end of my thesis, addressed largely to SKA members, whose work provided crucial input for my engineering project. Without them, it certainly wouldn’t have reached a high enough level to earn a distinction in the competition," summarized Korneliusz Szalkowski. "A very significant inspiration for my work was my participation in the Rocketry Section of the Students’ Space Association, where I have been active since the early days of my studies. Over the years, I have primarily dealt with mechanical aspects, particularly in the development and flight testing of the FOK guided rocket and the Twardowsky carrier rocket, especially within projects funded by the ‘Student Research Circles Drive Innovations programme."

Korneliusz Szalkowski at the Błędów Desert during the FOK rocket test