Arduino, OpenRocket and real labs: the technology used in the Rome aerospace program

When a young man enters a laboratory at the Sapienza School of Aerospace Engineering for the first time, what he encounters is not a conventional classroom. They are the same equipment, the same software and the same infrastructure used by undergraduates and researchers, and the task is to work with them to build and launch a real rocket.

This article describes the concrete technology used in Aerospace Engineering & Space Tech program: what OpenRocket is, how Arduino is applied to embedded rocket systems, such as Sapienza laboratories, and what young people actually do with these tools over the two weeks in Rome.

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What is OpenRocket and how is it used in the program?

OpenRocket is an open-source rocket simulation software widely used in aerospace engineering. It allows you to model the geometry of a rocket, define engine parameters, and simulate the flight path based on real physical principles, including aerodynamics, propulsion, and flight dynamics.

In the Sapienza program, participants use OpenRocket to:

1. Model the geometry of the prototype you are going to build
2. Simulate trajectories and predict maximum altitude
3. Analyze the stability of the rocket before launch
4. Compare simulated results with actual data collected at launch

This cycle of simulation, construction, launch, analysis is the same method used by professional engineers. The difference is that here it is conducted by young people from 15 to 18 years old, under the guidance of specialized instructors.

The software is free and cross-platform. Young people who want to familiarize themselves first with the program can download and try it at home, but the depth of the application, with real data and project objectives, takes place inside the laboratory.

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How is Arduino used in rockets?

Arduino is an open-source hardware and software platform used to program microcontrollers, small computers embedded in electronic systems. In aerospace engineering, embedded systems such as these are responsible for collecting sensor data, controlling actuators, and recording vehicle performance during flight.

In the Rome aerospace program, participants develop embedded systems with Arduino to:

• Control the prototype rocket's on-board electronics
• Integrate altitude, pressure, and acceleration sensors
• Collect telemetry data during launch
• Analyze the readings to validate (or refute) the simulation done on OpenRocket

It's not introductory programming. Participants work with concepts of real-time systems, sensor reading, and hardware integration, content that normally appears only in the initial years of graduating in electrical or mechatronics engineering.

For young people who have already had contact with Arduino or with basic programming, the program represents a qualitative leap. For those without experience, learning is guided but requires a willingness to learn quickly.

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What are the laboratories of the Sapienza School of Aerospace Engineering like?

The Sapienza Aerospace Engineering School was founded in 1926 and celebrates 100 years in 2026. Its facilities reflect a century of research and continuous investment in infrastructure to maintain the standard of a European reference school in the sector.

Program participants work in real laboratories, not in rooms adapted for summer courses. That means:

• Technical equipment used by undergraduate and graduate students
• Safety infrastructure suitable for working with propulsion components
• Academic environment with a history of research in the same areas, propulsion, aerodynamics, embedded systems

The School has a historic connection with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA), which recruit part of their engineers from among those graduated from the institution. The summer program takes place within this context, not in the margins of it.

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What do young people actually produce in the two weeks?

The program is organized in three sequential modules. Each one builds on the previous one, culminating in the launch of the rocket in Rovigo.

Module 1 — Rocket Engineering & Propulsion
Participants learn how rockets work: propulsion principles, basic aerodynamics, flight stability, and the differences between solid and liquid fuel engines. The theoretical base is built here and is what makes the following modules comprehensible.

Module 2 — Space Mission Simulation & Embedded Systems
This is where OpenRocket and Arduino come in. The young people simulate the mission, design the embedded system and integrate the sensors into the prototype under development. It is the most technical module and the one that requires the most concentration, with two laboratory blocks a day.

Module 3 — Prototype Development & Rocket LaunchThe prototype is finalized, tested, and prepared for launch. The team travels to Rovigo for the launch, collects the telemetry data, and analyzes the results compared to the original simulation. The program ends with the delivery of the certificate of completion.

Throughout the process, participants also visit a real aerospace company, a direct contact with the professional environment that complements the technical experience in the laboratory.

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Why does using real tools make a difference?

Any young person can watch a video about rockets. What sets the Rome program apart is that the participants don't learn about technology, they use technology for a real purpose.

OpenRocket is not used for a hypothetical exercise. It is used to design the rocket that is going to be launched. The Arduino is not programmed in simulation. It is integrated with the on-board system that will collect real data during the flight.

This distinction matters because the learning process changes completely when there is a concrete result to be achieved. Design errors appear in the simulation. Programming problems arise during testing. Technical decisions have verifiable consequences.

For young people who intend to pursue careers in engineering, technology, or applied sciences, this type of experience builds technical intuition that theoretical courses, even well conducted, are rarely able to offer. Also get to know our Sports Exchange Program for other forms of structured international experience.

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Is the program suitable for young people without prior technical experience?

Yes, with one important caveat. The program requires no prior knowledge of engineering, programming, or applied physics. But it requires a willingness to work intensively for two weeks.

The charge is 30 hours of classes and laboratories, in addition to evening activities and excursions. The pace is that of a university program, not a recreational summer course. Young people who arrive without technical experience are able to keep up, but they need to be prepared for real effort.

For young people who already have contact with Arduino, Python, robotics, or physics, the program offers a more advanced application of these skills than most school settings can provide.

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Frequently asked questions about Arduino, OpenRocket, and labs in the aerospace program

Is it necessary to know how to program to use the Arduino in the program?It's not a prerequisite, but it's an advantage. The program teaches what is necessary to integrate the Arduino into the prototype, but young people with previous programming experience will absorb the content more quickly.

Is OpenRocket hard to learn?
The software has a moderate learning curve. For basic use, modeling a rocket and simulating a trajectory — learning is quick. The program guides participants through this process with guidance from instructors.

Are the Sapienza laboratories the same as those used by undergraduate students?
Yes. The program takes place at the facilities of the School of Aerospace Engineering, not in rooms adapted for external courses. Participants have access to the same academic environment as regular students.

What happens to the data collected at the launch?The telemetry data collected by the Arduino embedded system is analyzed by the participants shortly after launch. The objective is to compare the real results with the simulation done on OpenRocket and understand the differences.

Is the rocket prototype built individually or as a team?
As a team. Part of the skills developed in the program is precisely collaborative work in a technical environment, an essential competence for professional engineers.

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Be Easy

Be Easy organizes the participation of young people in Aerospace Engineering & Space Tech program, taking care of the entire process from registration to returning home. If your child wants to have their first real contact with aerospace engineering before college, contact us.