Floris Tjan (9.17–22) is making waves in the world of aerospace engineering as part of the Karman Space Programme (KSP) at Imperial College London. Floris, currently in his final year of an integrated Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering, serves as Airframe Lead for this ambitious student rocketry team.
Founded in 2021, KSP’s mission is nothing short of extraordinary: to become the first student group globally—and the first non-governmental European team – to reach the Kármán Line (100km above Earth) with a reusable liquid rocket. This milestone would mark a historic achievement in sustainable space exploration.
The programme has grown rapidly, now boasting 40 students from Imperial and MIT, with an application ratio of 1 in 15. Beyond reusable launch vehicles, KSP is pioneering AI automation software through its dedicated AI Lab and developing 3D-printed rocket engines, pushing the boundaries of innovation.
So far, the team has completed two successful test flights, and preparations are underway for VEGA, their third and most advanced project to date. VEGA – a cryogenic liquid rocket using LOX-IPA – is scheduled to launch from the Nevada desert in early January 2026, making it Europe’s most advanced student rocket. Following VEGA, the flagship mission AURORA aims to reach the Kármán Line by mid-2026.
KSP is actively seeking sponsors to support these ground-breaking milestones. If you’d like to learn more or contribute to this historic journey, visit the Karman Space Programme website.
