ABOUT THE DIN

Guided Rocket Range Safety Simulation

Endeavour Aerospace

About the Company

Endeavour Aerospace is Australia’s sole importer and distributor of commercial solid rocket motors and is expanding into domestic manufacturing of solid rocket motors for commercial and defence applications. Endeavour operates the Red Sands Launch Range (RSLR), which supports commercial and educational sounding rocket launches and has already received approvals to launch small guided rockets. The company supports Defence and defence-industry customers seeking sovereign, rapid-turnaround test access for guided vehicle development.

Project Objective

The intern will develop a trajectory dispersion simulation methodology for guided rockets to support range safety analysis at the Red Sands Launch Range — extending Endeavour’s existing unguided-rocket methodology to actively controlled flight. Beginning by reimplementing the existing unguided methodology in ASTOS software, the intern will then model the additional error sources and off-nominal behaviours that guidance systems introduce, producing impact dispersion footprints and hazard areas suitable for flight safety analysis and regulatory submission. The work directly supports the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise (GWEO) by providing sovereign test access for guided vehicle development, easing demand on government-owned ranges.

Project Tasks

• Weeks 1–3: Transition Endeavour’s existing custom simulation for unguided sounding rockets into ASTOS; validate results against existing outputs; build familiarity with range safety analysis methodology and the ASTOS software environment.
• Weeks 4–11: Develop and implement a comparable trajectory dispersion methodology for guided rockets in ASTOS, informed by Endeavour’s ongoing CASA discussions on requirements for actively controlled vehicles; model guidance-specific error sources and off-nominal behaviours; produce impact dispersion footprints and hazard areas.
• Weeks 11–12 (if ahead of schedule): Begin extending the methodology to additional vehicle classes or range scenarios to improve reusability for future range expansions.

Intern Skills

• Python programming and numerical simulation — experience with 6-DOF trajectory modelling and uncertainty quantification is highly desirable.
• Aerospace flight mechanics; familiarity with range safety methodology, ASTOS, or comparable trajectory simulation tools (desirable).
• Curious and self-directed; comfortable owning a defined technical problem; attention to detail; methodical; able to explain technical reasoning clearly to regulatory audiences.

How to apply

Eligible students (Australian citizens and permanent residents) apply via the online application form and submit a CV and motivation letter by 6 September 2026.