100 years from Vlaicu's flight
June 17, 2010 - Bucharest

Today 100 years have passed since Aurel Vlaicu's first flight in Romania, using an aircraft built entirely in our country.

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Going into space
June 11, 2010 - Bucharest

"Going into space" is from today the ARCA motto. Because our dream is to fly into space, no matter how time or effort is required!
We want to inspire people through our projects and acomplishements, to stimulate imagination and to prove that anything is possible (in Romania as anywhere else), so long as there is a high goal and the unyielding willpower to reach it.

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ROMATSA meeting
June 4, 2010 - Bucharest

Today at ROMATSA headquarters a meeting took place between ARCA, ROMATSA and Air Force representatives, with the purpose of planning Helen 2 rocket launch activity from the Black Sea, that will take place soon.

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International Conference of Scientific Papers
June 1, 2010 - Brasov

Phd Sorin Dinea, ARCA aeronautical engineer, presented a paper about Henry Coanda and ARCA at the 12th International Conference of Scientific Papers "SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE AIR FORCE", held at the Air Force Academy in Brasov.

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Civil Society Awards
May 29, 2010 - Bucharest

Arca has won the special prize form Civil Society Awards for its contributions in aerospace field and for the uniqueness of its projects. http://www.galasocietatiicivile.ro/castigatori.php

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Video journal entry 32
May 27, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

The ground team supports hot air balloon landing and recovery operation.

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Video journal entry 31
May 15, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Hot air balloon landing filmed from onboard Wilga observer plane.

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Video journal entry 30
May 12, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

ELL capsule lifted onboard balloon nacelle, after finishing electronic equipments tests.

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Video journal entry 29
May 9, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Hot air balloon is descending below cloud level after successful equipment tests of Helen 2 space rocket.

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National Children Astronomy Contest - Equinox
May 7, 2010 - Suceava

On March 20th 2010 at "Stefan cel Mare" University Planetarium in Suceava, took place the 7th edition of the National Children Astronomy Contest - Equinox. The contest is divided into three sections: atronomical knowledge contest, astronomy literary creations and astronomy graphics.
At the astronomy knowledge section, have participated 90 children from schools in Suceava county.
250 children from schools in various counties have presented drawings and pictures with subjects in astronomy and cosmonautics.
The drawings whith subjects in space flight were selected for ARCA campaign "Send your pictures into space".

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Video journal entry 28
May 4, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

The crew of the Wilga observer plane is filming the balloon during a spectacular sharp turn.

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Video journal entry 27
May 3, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Two observer planes take off from Sanpetru airfield to film the carrier hot air ballon for the Mission 5 test flight.

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Video journal entry 26
May 1, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Hot air balloon lift-off carrying ELL capsule, Helen 2 first stage capsule and electronic equipments for testing, in preparation for Mission 4 that will be lauched from the Black Sea.

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Mission 5 was largely covered in TV media
April 30, 2010 - Bucharest

Below you can see Mission 5 related in TV news on four channels.

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Successful flight of Helen 2 electronic equipments during Mission 5
April 28, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Click for image gallery

The Romanian Cosmonautics and Aeronautics Association (ARCA) in partnership with Romanian Air Club and Romanian Aeronautics Federation have launched Mission 5, the test before Helen 2 space rocket launch.
The flight took place between 07:45 - 08:45 AM , with take-off from Hoghiz - Brasov.
During this flight, a manned hot air balloon lifted to 5200m altitude the Helen 2 first stage pressurised capsule and the ELL capsule (European Lunar Lander). The maximum distance between the carrier balloon and the command center at Sanpetru airfield was 42 km, which corresponds with safety zone simulation for Helen 2 rocket.
The flight objectives were:
- live TV transmission test
- telemetry systems test with radio and satellite reception
- command systems test with radio and satellite transmission
- pneumatics systems test for rocket stage separation and the system for triggering the supersonic recovery parachutes
The flight results were:
- overall the TV system worked well, reception time was aprox 92% of emission time
- the radio and satellite telemetry systems worked perfectly during flight
- two out of three radio command systems worked perfectly. The third malfunctioned due to circuit cut-off from command panel to transmission antenna. When the problem was solved, the carrier balloon descended below radio sight and reception was no longer possible. Satellite command system worked perfectly.
- the pneumatic rocket stage separation systems and the system for triggering the supersonic recovery parachutes worked perfectly.
"If Helen 2 rocket launch would have taken place today, from pneumatic and electronic equipments standpoint, we would have reached outer space" - Dumitru Popescu, ARCA president.
Balloon crew was comprised of Mihai Ilie - pilot, Mugurel Ionescu - copilot and Dumitru Popescu Helen 2 rocket equipments operator.
This flight is a part of The Google Lunar Xprize international competition.
Helen 2 space rocket will be launched in very short time from the Black Sea during the already scheduled Mission 4.

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Mission 5 is completed
April 27, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

More details in short time.

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Mission 5 Press Release
April 26, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association (ARCA), together with the Romanian Airclub and the Romanian Aeronautical Federation, will launch Mission 5, a forerunner test of the Helen 2 space rocket launch. The flight will take place on 27 April at 07:00 AM Bucharest, with departure area near Hoghiz – Brasov. In this flight, a hot air balloon will raise the pressurized capsule of Helen 2 rocket's first stage 1 and the ELL (European Lunar Lander).

Download the full press release here

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Video journal entry 25
April 26, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Pilot and copilot check the high altitude breathing equipment.

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Video journal entry 24
April 25, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

Mihai Ilie, hot air balloon pilot discusses optimal parameters and solutions to launch.

During the flight made in partnership by ARCA, The Romanian Air Club, and The Romanian Aeronautics Federation will be tested telemetry systems, radio, TV and satelite transmission equipments for Mission 5.

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Video journal entry 23
April 24, 2010 - Sanpetru, Brasov

ARCA team has arrived at Sanpetru, Brasov airclub in preparation for the Monday balloon flight that will test equipments for the Helen 2 Black Sea launch.

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ARCA launches Mission 5 at Brasov
April 13, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Between April 25th and April 26th, at 08:00 Bucharest hour, Mission 5 will take place, with take-off near Sanpetru, Brasov. This flight is made in collaboration with The Romanian Air Club and The Romanian Aeronautics Federation.
In this flight a manned hot air balloon will lift Helen 2 first stage pressurised capsule and ELL capsule.
The main objective is to test in flight the avionics and TV transmission systems of Helen 2 rocket.
The balloon crew will be comprised of pilot Mihai Ilie, copilot Mugurel Ionescu and Dumitru Popescu who will operate Helen 2 rocket equipments. The exact date depends on weather conditions and the behaviour of the volcanic ash cloud that has restricted air traffic.
Helen 2 space rocket will be launched in short time form the Black Sea during the already scheduled Mission 4.

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Video journal entry 22
April 13, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

About the second stage engine of Helen 2 rocket. Traction force measures two tons at first stage and 500 kg at second stage.

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Video journal entry 21
April 10, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

About the first stage fuel tank, check valves, injectors, and electronic components that control them.

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Video journal entry 20
April 9, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Simona Popescu describes the equipments inside the capsule of the first stage of Helen 2 rocket.

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Video journal entry 19
April 5, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Simona Popescu presents the components of Helen 2 rocket first stage. The Helen 2 rocket was designed as a demonstrator for Moon flight capable Haas rocket.

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Video journal entry 18
April 1, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Simona Popescu and Claudia Parvu prepare poscards for Easter. It is in ARCA tradition to send postcards on important holydays to every person and insitution we collaborate.

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Video journal entry 17
March 31, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Simona Popescu, ARCA PR, speaks about video journal success and traffic increase on web channels where ARCA is present. Youtube daily views have tripled since and we had also a major visitor increase on ARCA website and Facebook page.

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Video journal entry 16
March 29, 2010 - Bucharest

This is the last episode of the series dedicated to the Mission 3 launch attempt. In this clip you can see the inflated balloon before the mission was cancelled because of inflation arms entanglement.

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Video journal entry 15
March 26, 2010 - Bucharest

Helen rocket sollar balloon is inflated on sea surface using eleven fans onboard Venus ship. It was for the first time when such an operation was attempted on sea surface.

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Video journal entry 14
March 25, 2010 - Bucharest

Helen rocket stages are being fueled from transfer tanks onboard Venus ship. During this time fast boats keep the stages in position on the sea surface.

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Video journal entry 13
March 24, 2010 - Bucharest

Helen rocket stages towed by Bombard 1 watercraft.

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Video journal entry 12
March 23, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

First stage of Helen rocket being lowered onto sea surface.

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Video journal entry 11
March 22, 2010 - Bucharest

The Romanian Government has reduced research funds by forty percent.

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Video journal entry 10
March 19, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

281 Constanta, Venus and Fulgerul ships seen from the sea.

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Video journal entry 9
March 18, 2010 - Bucharest

Videoclip from Mission 3 about Helen stage 1 being loaded onto 281 Constanta Navy ship.

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Video journal entry 8
March 17, 2010 - Bucharest

Stefan Liute from Grapefruit and Dumitru Popescu talk about branding and communication.

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Video journal entry 7
March 16, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Dumitru Popescu awarded at the Valcea County Library for building Helen Rocket.

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Video journal entry 6
March 15, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Teodor Diaconu presents the pneumatic system that detaches Helen 2 rocket form the carrier balloon.

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Video journal entry 5
March 12, 2010 - Bucharest

Sorin Dinea, ARCA engineer, at the unveiling of an artwork that depicts rocket concepts designed by Conrad Haas.

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Video journal entry 4
March 11, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Paul Radut and Dumitru Popescu about Helen 2 fuel tank valves.

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Video journal entry 3
March 10, 2010 - Bucharest

Dumitru Popescu at US Embassy.

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Video journal entry 2
March 9, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Modifying check valves for rocket engine.

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Video journal entry 1
March 8, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

Simona Popescu, ARCA PR, about video journal.

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Coanda Anniversary
February 27, 2010 - Bucharest

At the aeronautical college Henri Coanda from Bucharest were opened a series of celebrations on the 100th anniversary of testing the world's first jet airplane, invented by the romanian Henri Coanda. On this occasion, our colleague Sorin Dinea presented the Coanda 1910 plane the lenticular aerodine and the ARCA 3 Mission. The nearly 200 attending students were impressed by our projects. For more details, starting nex week, you can access the site: www.jet100.com

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Video series
February 17, 2010 - Ramnicu Valcea

In short time, ARCA will begin to publish a daily video with its activities

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Space Tourists
January 21-31, 2010 - UTAH

This year's winner of the Sundance World Cinema Documentary prize for Directing is Christian Frei's SPACE TOURISTS «For its masterful and poetic approach to a complex story of history, humanity and fantasy - taking place between earth and space…» Protagonists: Anouseh Ansari (space tourist) and Dumitru Popescu (ARCA team leader)

http://www.space-tourists-film.com

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Google Lunar X Prize Summit - Final Day
February 4, 2010 - LOS ANGELES

The Google Lunar X Prize summit held at NASA JPL in Pasadena, California ended on February 3, 2010. During the Summit the teams discussed about regulation, shared own experience and learned from previous NASA planetary missions. Also, the teams were informed about the latest NASA's projects of planetary exploration, for the years to come. Pictures from the Summit.

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Google Lunar X Prize Day one summit
February 1, 2010 - BUCHAREST

The first day at NASA's JPL during the Google Lunar X Prize Summit. The X Prize teams learned about NASA's planetary missions from the people that designed and operated the spacecrafts. Photo: William Pomerantz, Director of Space Prizes at XPF, Dumitru Popescu, ARCA Team Leader and Anousheh Ansari,sponsor of the Ansari X Prize and space tourist. Bellow: the ATHLETE Lunar Rover.

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Google Lunar X Prize Team Summit
January 29, 2010 - BUCHAREST

ARCA Team will participate at the Google Lunar X Prize Team Summit, at NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, on February 1-2, 2010.

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ONE MORE STEP
January 18, 2010 - RAMNICU – VALCEA

ARCA completed the general launch procedures for the Helen 2 rocket, as the Mission 4 will be launched in April 2010.

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HELEN 2
January 04, 2010 - RAMNICU - VALCEA

On November 14th, 2009 ARCA attempted to launch the Helen rocket from the Black Sea.
The launch didn't take place because the inflation arms twisted around the balloon. This happened due to the curents from the sea and some inappropriate procedures for folding the arms during the inflation process sea.
The launch was postponed to April 2010, and will be executed from a new location to be disclosed at a later date. The rocket will be named Helen 2 and the mission will be named Mission 4.
Helen 2 is an upgraded version of Helen. The goal is to implement more technical solutions that will later be used for the Haas rocket on its flight towards the Moon, within the Google Lunar X Prize competition.
The main difference between Helen and Helen 2 is the usage of spherical – instead of cylindrical - fuel tanks , a solution that is also implemented on Haas.
This option will increase the aerodynamic drag, which will allow for the launch altitude to be 16,000 m, instead of 14,000 m as planned for Mission 3.

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