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Universidad de los Andes · SpaceTech Rocketry

CCCD
2026

A university rocketry campaign focused on building reliable competition systems while developing the engineering capabilities required for the next generation of SpaceTech vehicles.

Colombian Collegiate Rocketry Competition 2026 SpaceTech Rocketry
CCCD2026 · 06 NOV 2026
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01 / Overview

CCCD2026 is the main engineering objective of SpaceTech during 2026. The campaign uses the competition as a platform to consolidate the team's capabilities in design, simulation, manufacturing, avionics, recovery, integration, documentation, and launch operations.

The project is organized around two complementary vehicles: Pollux, a competition-focused evolution of PATACON-1, and Castor, an experimental platform intended to develop technologies and processes that can later support LASC2027.

02 / Engineering objectives

01

Reliability

Develop a repeatable vehicle and operational process, with recovery treated as a primary engineering system rather than an afterthought.

02

Avionics

Mature telemetry, downlink, sensing, and flight electronics while keeping the architecture compatible with future development.

03

Manufacturing

Improve composite manufacturing, testing, dimensional control, and documentation so that processes can be reproduced by future teams.

04

Integration

Develop a more disciplined approach to integrating structures, recovery, payload, avionics, communications, and ground operations.

03 / Vehicles

Pollux

PATACON-2 · Competition Platform

Pollux is the direct evolution of PATACON-1 and the team's primary competition vehicle.

  • G80-7T motor
  • Glass-fibre composite structure
  • Integrated competition CanSat
  • Independent downlink
  • Focus on reliability and operational maturity

Castor

Experimental Platform · LASC2027 Precursor

Castor is intended to develop technologies and engineering practices that go beyond the requirements of the competition.

  • H135W-14A motor
  • Photography and video systems
  • Advanced integration concepts
  • Higher-altitude mission objectives
  • Technology development for LASC2027

04 / Design constraints

≥ 80 cm Minimum length
≤ 1200 g Maximum mass
250–300 g CanSat mass
≥ 5:1 Thrust / weight
≥ 2 cal Stability margin

05 / Roadmap

PATACON-1 established the team's first competitive vehicle. PATACON-1.5 is being used to recover knowledge, train members, and standardize processes. CCCD2026 then becomes the next step: Pollux consolidates competitive reliability while Castor begins developing the capabilities required for LASC2027.

06 / Expected outcome

CCCD2026 is not only a competition flight. It is a test of whether SpaceTech can turn individual technical efforts into reliable, documented, repeatable engineering systems.