Meet the RISE team

We are RISE, our passion is to innovate in challenging problems in rocketry and space engineering. We are based at the University of Twente and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. This collaboration welcomes students from the Beta studies at the VU and the engineering studies at the UT to work together on challenging multidisciplinary projects.

Achieving circularity and sustainability pushes the space industry to unique and innovative solutions we did not dare to dream of a decade ago. With the rising number of particles in orbit and the limited resources on Earth, solutions have to be made to sustain human space activities. RISE focuses on two topics, sustainability in rocketry and active space debris removal. Project Alpha brings reusability and renewable fuel usage together in one project where the first verticle landing of a biofuel-powered will be presented. The vertical landing, or powered descent, allows for complete reusability of the rocket. With Project Clean Space the team aims to engage high school and undergrad students to collaborate in generating creative ideas in a yearly competition to tackle a rising problem, space debris. Removing floating objects in orbit and sustaining an efficient working in-space servicing system will be paramount to maintain a safe environment for satellites, rocket vehicles and astronauts.

With these projects, RISE hopes to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability in the space sector and to show STEM students the exciting challenges and new possibilities that come with them.

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Management

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    Nathan Jacques

    CO-FOUNDER, TEAM MANAGER

    During my Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering at the VU/UT I decided to become part of a group of students with the ambition to land the first model rocket since this was a great fit for my passion for design and complex systems. The pursuit of this challenge took us to multiple state-of-the-art designs and inspiring implementations in rocketry and space engineering, which made us want more. Focusing on the impact we can make as a student team we found the high need for sustainable solutions spread over all sectors of the space industry. We set new goals which attracted a lot of like-minded students from numerous disciplines who were looking for a challenge. I am excited to see what we can achieve as a team and where the hard work will lead us.

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    Alexander Nieuwland

    CO-FOUNDER, TECHNICAL MANAGER

    I am Alexander Nieuwland, third-year Mechanical Engineering student and I am the Technical Manager of the team. It is my responsibility to oversee the technical development within the team. My passion lies in mechanical, software and electrical engineering. With my knowledge in these areas, together with my expertise I am determined to help RISE with its most ambitious goal; performing a propulsive landing with a reusable & biofuel-powered rocket.

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    Ana Vukasovic

    COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

    I am currently completing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (Design and Manufacturing track combined with Maintenance and Operations). I have always been passionate about space exploration and aerospace engineering so joining RISE was a natural step for me. At RISE I will be managing company communications, organizing events and handling PR, as well as helping out with overall team management. I will also be helping out in the Mechanics department to utilize my engineering skills. I am excited to work in a multidisciplinary team and apply my knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Technical Team

Mechanics

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    Oscar Rajantie

    CHIEF MECHANICS

    Spaceflight has always fascinated me. I am a creative person interested in technology so naturally the constant new innovations in the aerospace industry fascinate me. As a mechanical engineering student, I learn a lot about different technological principles. Being a part of RISE allows me to use my skills to find solutions to real technical problems we experience. I want to learn more about rocketry and become an even better engineer. The various RISE projects offer me challenges to solve and opportunities to develop my skills.

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    Rick van Liere

    MECHANICAL ENGINEER

    My name is Rick and I am a third-year bachelor's student at the UT and the VU. I am passionate about art, drawing, engineering and space. Ever since I was a little kid I have been absolutely fascinated by space and the space industry. At RISE I hope to grow as an engineer, to put my engineering knowledge to practice and to gain more engineering experience. But mostly to have fun doing it.

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    Thomas Coelen

    MECHANICAL ENGINEER

    My name is Thomas, I am a master's student in mechanical engineering at the University of Twente besides this I hold a bachelor's in aeronautical engineering. Within RISE I work on the Stability Ascend Mechanism. Ever since I was a kid, I have always had an interest in complex technology and especially in the Aerospace sector. This lifelong interest has been the main reason that I joined the team.

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    Victor Vassilev

    MECHNICAL ENGINEER

    My name is Victor and I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Twente. It is my second year in the university and I joined RISE as an aspiring engineer interested in learning about rocketry and space. I am appointed to the mechanics team where I am responsible for the structural mechanics and modeling of integrated rocket parts. Together with my teammates in RISE, we work towards a common goal to ideate and create a green rocket for space junk removal.

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    Tomas Valentinas

    MECHANICAL ENGINEER

    I am Tomas Valentinas, a second-year mechanical engineering student at Vrije and Twente Universiteit. Recently, I had the exciting opportunity to join the Rise student team. Being passionate about new technologies and their potential, I am eagerly looking forward to the team's future prospects. I am excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals and explore innovative solutions that can have a positive impact on society. Together, we aim to leverage our skills and knowledge to drive meaningful advancements and make a difference through Rise's initiatives.

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    Borna Rašković

    MECHANICAL ENGINEER

    My name is Borna and I'm a second year mechanical engineering student at the UT. Spaceflight, rockets and jet engines always sparked an interest in me and the idea of me working on such a project seemed truly exciting. That is why I joined RISE where I can expand my engineering knowledge and skills, work with other group members on creating an inovative rocket and hopefuly one day having a small contribution in the space cleaning process.

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    Aleksei Lissin

    MECHANICAL ENGINEER

    I am Aleksei Lissin a second-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Twente. I have got the wonderful chance to become a member of the RISE student team. I am excited about the team's future possibilities since I am passionate about new technologies and their potential. I'm eager to work with like-minded people and investigate cutting-edge ideas that could benefit society. Through RISE's activities, we hope to use our combined skills and experience to promote important developments and change the world.

Electronics

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    Vlad Malaxa

    CHIEF ELECTRONICS

    During my first year of Electrical Engineering, I always felt that something was missing. Looking at all the creative teams I could not help but be curious about the process of working alongside other engineers to develop something great. When I saw the RISE team, and their goal of removing space debris from the orbit I knew I wanted to be part of this mission. My wish is to be able to implement my abilities in this fascinating subject.

Software

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    Ahmed Abidelli

    CHIEF SOFTWARE

    My name is Ahmed. I am a computer science student at Vrije University and a software engineer at RISE. My role currently revolves around the stability, security and speed of the telemetry implementation. I enjoy working in a team where everyone is committed to getting things done while being passionate about their work, and RISE represents that environment to me. I joined this project because I have been interested in rocketry since I was a child. Therefore, it seems to me that being a software engineer at RISE allows me to mix my current field of study with the hobby I had for a long while.

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    Andreea Barbu

    SOFTWARE ENGINEER

    My motivation to join the team was that I am fascinated by space and space exploration, and I would like to contribute to human evolution. And to make that possible, rockets are needed (a lot of them). To make matters easier, the rockets must become reusable, so space junk would get less and less. As the team’s main objective is to build a rocket that could be reusable, I was really interested in how that works and how that can be done. As a person that studies computer science, my main approach is programming, and joining the team would give me more experience by doing something that I truly like and enjoy.

Propulsion

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    Pieter de Vries

    CHIEF PROPULSION

    I like rockets, and RISE builds rockets. Finding myself with some extra free time, I decided that I wanted to use it to work toward my goal of becoming a rocket engineer. As such, it made sense that I joined the team. Rocket science is a field where theory and practice are the same. Every tiny detail is consequential, there are no shortcuts to space. I love this type of cold, objective science almost as much as I love making the joke: “It’s not rocket science”.

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    Tristan Hirs

    PROPULSION ENGINEER

    I'm Tristan, a propulsion engineer at RISE, and I'm thrilled to be part of this exceptional team. With a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and currently pursuing my Master's, my passion lies in the realm of rocket engines. Joining the Green Phoenix program presents an incredible opportunity for me to push the boundaries of propulsion technology and acquire invaluable hands-on experience. Together, let's revolutionize the aerospace industry and work towards creating a greener and more efficient future.

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    Maxime Larguet

    PROPULSION ENGINEER

    My name is Maxime and I study mechanical engineering at the University of Twente. I am a member of the Propulsion Team and I am involved in the development of a throttlable biofuel rocket engine. Project Alpha’s aim towards sustainability and reusability, to be achieved by a propulsive landing, aligns with my interests geared towards aerospace engineering. Using my knowledge acquired during my study, I can further develop my skills and knowledge on an ambitious real-world problem.

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    Purvika Mittal

    TRAJECTORY

    I am Purvika Mittal a final year Aerospace Engineering student at Vellore Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India having huge passion for space, satellite control, navigation, mission design analysis, and space exploration. An enthusiast who understands the worth of opportunity and when to seize it. An avid learner with skills including research, modelling software, simulation software, and leadership. I served as Project Lead at “SEDS NEBULA” at chapter of SEDS INDIA and lead the team of 20 students for the CANSAT 2022 competition. Believes “In future space exploration would not be limited to the professionals but also to the amateur Passionist.”

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    Matéo Koch

    PROPULSION ENGINEER

    I am a mechanical engineering student at VU/UT and part of the propulsion team for RISE. Getting to work with a team towards a specific goal and applying my knowledge as well as acquiring hard skills was a big motivation for me. Rockets are fascinating for everyone, but being able to design and launch one is truly a rare opportunity. I’ve always been interested in the aerospace industry, helping me build a foundation for my career after university. Joining the team as a first year, I am looking forward to the progress and experience this project has to offer.

Vehicle Control

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    Linda Kareem

    CHIEF CONTROL

    I am currently studying for a master’s degree in Systems & Control at the University of Twente. While my background is in structural engineering and project management, I recently I decided to change my profession to pursue my passion, and a career in the space industry. That is why when I initially heard about RISE, I felt inspired to join the team to promote and contribute to RISE’s mission. I am also keen to apply the technical knowledge I have gained during my degree, and use my previous professional experience to solve real-world problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

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    Szczepan Letkiewicz

    CONTROL ENGINEER

    I have been interested in aerospace for as long as I remember now. My long-time goal is to work in the aerospace sector one day, and joining RISE was my first step to getting some initial experience in the field. I am part of the very motivated control team, where we work towards stabilizing the rocket during descent and landing.

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    Evalds Grava

    CONTROL ENGINEER

    I am Ēvalds, a student from Latvia who came to the Netherlands to take advantage of the engineering opportunities that are present here. I study Advanced Technology with Control Engineering/Robotics as my target masters at the University of Twente. I am passionate about drums and music, and of course rocketry. Having built small sugar rockets in Latvia, I am very excited to use my studies to work towards something much more substantial both in terms of a rocket and a contribution to the student team.