CNES PERSEUS student program

[Rik ISS-fan]

At the 2005 Paris Air show CNES launched a student program named PERSEUS (Projet Etudiant de Recherche Spatiale Européen Universitaire et Scientifique).
The program is explained in this document.

There are multiple flight demonstrators build for the perseus project. The UAV's mini-L3AR and EOLE (a flight demonstrators for a Male UAV that can Airlaunch a hybrid rocket capable of orbiting a 50kg (110pound) Satellite to LEO.
And three types of rockets:
-ARES a rockets with CTI ProX solid engines with a diameter of 0,16m (6.3inch) that serve as technology test bed. ARES rockets are subsonic rockets, they launch during High Power Rocketry launch days.
-Sera super-sonic two stage rockets with CTI proX engines and a diameter of 0,16m. The first one launched in 2014 from Esrange the second one is planned to launch this year and the third one in 2018.
- And Arcadia an advanced liquid or hybrid rocket with a diameter of 0,25m capable of reaching more than 100km altitude.

Al launches and activities for the Perseus project can be posted and discussed here.   

[Rik ISS-fan]

The first launch attempt of SERA2 form Esrange Space Center (SSC; ESC) is planned for April 27th 14:00 LT (UTC+2).
Links:
Perseus Page

Article about the Flight Acceptance Review for SERA2
Supaero Space Section page about SERA2

I expect the team to arrive at Esrange sometime next week.

Before the SERA 2 launch, the DLR STERN, ZARM (TU bremen) ZEpHyR will attempt to launch again.

Following the SERA 2 launch form Esrange, the next event for PERSEUS is the C'Space launch day from CEL; Test Center Landes, Biscarosse, France. Several ARES rockets will launch at this launch event. This is most likely planned for July 2016, but I couldn't find info about this launch day jet.
I only found a reference on the website form TU Wien Space Team (Austria) [2]

Here are some links to old info about the Perseus project:
Perseus project overview 2014
C'Space 2015
CNES articles: [1] 7 dec 2015 ; [2] 1 feb. 2016

[Rik ISS-fan]

News on the Perseus page:
SERA2 pre-campain is over (completed)
edit: also some pictures here.

The launch team will arrive today.
The launch is still planned for April 27th 14:00 LT (UTC+2).
About 2 days, 21 hours and 40 minutes to launch 

[Syl35]

New countdown in few minutes, liftoff at 12h00 UTC

[Syl35]

Two main informations on the project:

The successful SERA2 flight --> http://www.perseus.fr/en/news/article/sucessfull-sera2-flight?lang=en

And most recently! --> 1st engine ignition - biliquid engine MINERVA LOX/Ethanol

http://www.perseus.fr/en/news/article/succesful-mle5k-s1-engine-ignition

[Rik ISS-fan]

Sorry really late. SERA 3 was launched successfully back in April.


Now they are working on SERA4; launch planned for end April 2018, from SSC Esrange.