[1]Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association (ARCA) is a non-governmental organization, that promotes innovative aerospace projects located in Valcea County. ARCA joined the Ansari X PRIZE Competition in 2002 and since then it became one of the leading teams. ARCA developed two main projects: the Demonstrator rockets and STABILO. Demonstrator 2B rocket, equipped with world first composite materials reusable monopropellant engine ever to fly, was successfully launched on September 9, 2004 from the Cape Midia Air Force Launch Site on the Black Sea shore.
STABILO, a two stages manned suborbital air launched vehicle completed three flights until now. The first stage is world largest Solar Montgolfier balloon and the second stage is a rocket powered manned spaceship. First low altitude flights of Stabilo were completed in 2006. In the same year, Mission1 was completed at an altitude of 14.700 m. In 2007 Stabilo’s Mission2 was launched at an altitude of 12.000 m above the Black Sea. The team received flight data via a communication satellite. The landing point was located at 30km (16.2miles) from the launch site. The Navy recovered the vehicle, the recovery ship being guided from ARCA’s Command Center.
Roster
Dumitru Popescu – ARCA’s President/ GLXP Team Leader/ Propulsion engineer
Born: January 2, 1977 in Rm. Valcea. He is married and has one child, Luca. In 1997 he studied at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest – Aerospace Engineering. In 1998, together with a group of students, he created ARCA and soon, rockets as Demonstrator 2 and 2B were build. In 2003 ARCA joined the X PRIZE Competition and Dumitru represented the team to the major X PRIZE Foundation events, such: X PRIZE Teams Meeting (2004), X PRIZE Gala (2004) and X PRIZE Cup (2005, 2006). In 2004 Dumitru was designer and coordinated the launch of Demonstrator 2B rocket from Cape Midia Air Force Launch Base. Demonstrator 2B was world first rocket equipped with completely reusable composite materials monopropellant rocket engine, ever to fly. Dumitru was designer for ARCA’s X PRIZE class vehicle Stabilo and he coordinated the Mission 1 and 2 flights as well as all ground tests of this vehicle. During this program Dumitru will be the team leader as well as propulsion engineer.
Teodor Diaconu – Spacecraft systems/Flight dynamics designer
Born: November 15, 1973 in Rm. Valcea. He is unmarried. In 1997 he studied at the Craiova University – Chemistry Faculty – Post-graduate PhD Chemistry. He is a member of ARCA since 2002. Since then he had a great contribution to the development of rocket engines, rocket fuel tanks, and flight dynamics computer programs. He participated to the ground and flight tests of Demonstrator 2B rocket and Stabilo’s Mission 1 and 2. In 2006 he lead the governmental military application program STRACAAT developed at ARCA. Since September 2007 he is leading the VECSS government funded project with the goal of developing a low cost balloon launched suborbital vehicle. During this program Teodor will be in charge with the development of ship’s subsystems as well as with the flight dynamics.
Paul Răduţ – Electric/electronic engineer
Born: July 1, 1956 in Pitesti. He is married and has two children, Alex and Adrian. In 1978 he studied at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest – Automatics Engineering. He is a member of ARCA since 2006. He worked on the development of electric/electronics/pneumatics subsystems for the Stabilo and STRACAAT vehicles and participated to the Mission 1 and 2 flights of the Stabilo vehicle. He created the automat flight control systems and ground control systems for Mission 1 and 2. During this program Paul will be in charge with the development of ship’s electric/electronic/pneumatics subsystems as well as the ground data receiver/transmitter.
Andrei Comănceanu – ARCA’s Vice-president/Flight dynamics
Born: December 26, 1978 in Falciu. He is unmarried. In 1997 he studied at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest – Aerospace Engineering – Master in Aerospace Engineering. He is a member of ARCA since 1999 and vice-president of ARCA since 2001. He worked intensively to the development and launch of Demonstrator 2B rocket and it was a member of the flight tests team for Stabilo’s Mission 1 and 2. Since September 2007 he is leading the BASMATES governmental funded project with the goal of developing a high altitude, balloon carried, flight platform. During this program Andrei will be in charge with the development of the Montgolfier solar balloon used to lift the rocket which will transport the ELE vehicle.
Bogdan Sburlea – Project manager/PR
Born: November 7, 1961 in Pitesti. He is unmarried. In 1981 he studied at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest – Automatics Engineering. Bogdan has also an MBA at Open University Business School UK. He is a member of ARCA and project manager since 2002. His efforts at ARCA were focused on funds rising and efficient activities coordination. He participated on external business and media meetings as well as X PRIZE Founation meetings, such: X PRIZE Teams Meeting (2004), SpaceShipOne X PRIZE Flight 1 (2004) and X Prize Cup (2005). During this program, Bogdan will be team’s contact with the international press and he will represent the team on official external meetings.
Simona Popescu – PR manager
Born: June 23, 1980 in Dragasani. She is married and has one child: Luca. In 1999 she studied at the Sibiu University – French Launguage Faculty. She is PR manager of ARCA since 2001. She organized important media events, such as the launch of Demonstrator 2B rocket, and Stabilo’s Mission 1 flight, as well as public displays of Demonstrator 2 and Orizont X PRIZE class vehicle. Through she’s work, ARCA became one of the most well known team in the field of suborbital flight. During this program, Simona will organize media and public events for hardware presentations and ground and flight tests.