With his pulse racing and nerves on edge, Hannes follows the countdown.
The rocket lifts off, climbing steadily, and a wave of emotions washes over him.
A year of intense effort has brought them to this moment – the finish line of their first major project.
USN Horizon’s First Rocket Launch
The student organisation USN Horizon from the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) has just completed its debut participation in the European Rocketry Challange (EuRoC) in Portugal.
“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished, and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has played a crucial role in that,” says Hannes Weigel, leader of USN Horizon.
“Having the right sponsor at the right time cannot be overstated. When we received support from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, few others could have filled that role. They provided us with invaluable guidance in building our organisation and access to a priceless network. Their sponsorship has been essential in making our rocket launch possible.”
"None of us wanted to risk shipping the rocket by air or post, so we opted for a rental car. The competition supplies both the motor and fuel, so it was safe – but still nerve-racking. We had to be ready to explain to customs why we had a 3.5-metre rocket in the boot,” Hannes explains.
Together with teammate and co-founder Ole-Eirik, they crossed several borders before finally reaching the competition site – with an extra stop in the Netherlands to buy replacement parts for the rocket, which had been lost in the post.
When the launch finally became a reality, it was an emotional moment for the entire student organisation.
USN Horizon participated in the 9,000-metre class but had to downgrade the motor midway through the project when the originally planned motor became unavailable.
Along with the added weight of the rocket, this reduced its range – but in no way diminished the significance of their achievement: launching a self-built rocket in a prestigious competition as a newly formed student organisation with ambitious goals. The rocket reached an impressive altitude of 5,685 metres, with a top speed of 400 m/s and a descent speed of 230 m/s.
“Going from being observers last year to participants this year has been a surreal experience. We’ve learned so much along the way, and successfully launching our own rocket was an incredible reward in the end,” says Mette-Marie. She also praises the logistics team: “They provided the infrastructure that enabled us to perform under pressure.”
Lessons learned and new horizons ahead
Hannes and Mette-Marie agree that the most important lesson this year has been the crucial value of appreciating, empowering, and leading people within an organisation – especially under high pressure.
“One major lesson has been that a project like this is 50% about building the rocket and 50% about people and leadership. Finding a good balance between managing a technical project and taking responsibility for the people behind it is essential. This is often underestimated, but it’s something I’ll carry with me into my career,” says Hannes.
The road ahead for USN Horizon offers many opportunities, though Hannes and Mette-Marie are keeping their plans under wraps. The choice of their next project remains undecided, with options ranging from a return to EuRoC to exploring new launch opportunities on Norwegian soil. Whatever direction they take, USN Horizon hopes to inspire more USN students to engage with space technology and see the unique value of participating in student organisations like theirs.
The first launch has sparked great interest among students, and the team plans to display the remains of the rocket on campus—a clear reminder of what they’ve accomplished.
“The rocket provides a clear glimpse into the immense forces at play during launch and landing. The students in Kongsberg are incredibly talented, and we hope to inspire others to give it a try. If you dare to try, there’s so much exciting potential to achieve,” Hannes concludes.
