Thomson Supports Elara Aerospace in Record-Seeking Rocket Launch Mission

Regal Rexnord linear motion solutions brand, Thomson, is supporting Elara Aerospace, an academically led initiative founded at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), with precision linear motion technology for its liquid-fueled Methalox rocket. 

The Elara team is seeking to become the first student group worldwide to develop a liquid-propelled rocket capable of exceeding 100 kilometers in altitude while being fully reusable and have space for up to 100 kg of scientific experiments. As part of a joint partnership with sister brands Boston Gear and Kollmorgen, Thomson is providing key actuation components that will support active engine positioning and critical flight control functions.

The system will use two Thomson PC Series precision linear actuators integrated with Kollmorgen AKM13D servomotors and dual-axis drive systems, along with Boston Gear Micron NemaTRUE planetary gearheads. Together, the components form a coordinated motion solution tailored to the application’s performance requirements.
In the Elara rocket, the actuators will support engine gimbaling, enabling controlled movement within a narrow ±5 degree operating range. The PC Series actuators were selected for their compact design, ball screw-based construction and ability to deliver accurate, repeatable motion in space constrained applications.

“Rocket control applications leave very little room for uncertainty. Every commanded movement must be predictable, measurable and easy to verify,” said Anders Karlsson, business development manager for Regal Rexnord’s Linear Motion Division. “For us, the value of this partnership is not only in supplying components but in helping Elara build confidence in the actuation approach before the system moves into flight use. Working closely with the team helped us ensure the motion package fits cleanly within the overall engine control architecture.”

The actuators were supplied as individual components, giving the Elara Aerospace team flexibility in system design and testing. The motion system is currently being validated on development platforms for use in the rocket’s engine control system.

“For an academically led team working on active engine control, it was important for us to use components that were not only technically capable but also practical to work with,” said TomLuca Reinhardt, founder and CEO of Elara Aerospace. “Thomson’s guidance gave us a clear path for the thrust vector control design without adding unnecessary complexity.”

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