About
Sentinel develops model rocketry components, aimed at closely matching the pace of advancement in the space-launch industry. Learning by experimentation is the most effective way to gain a deep understanding of new concepts, which is why providing hands-on experience with advanced rocketry components is important for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts of Ukraine and the whole World.
My name is Tim, I'm from Ukraine, and I run Sentinel.Inc! I haven't graduated from school yet and after seeing the ambition of SpaceX, and excitement in the new space industry, I was hooked. With help of friends from my English Courses I started building rockets (first of this kind in Ukraine, as far as I know) and subsequently I've launched self-funded company called Sentinel.Inc to demostrate achieved results. In future, I would like to work in aerospace and physics, but I didn't want to wait for degree and despite the war started such project in March 2024. The main goals of Sentinel.Inc are VTVL with same functions as Falcon 9 rocket, and the scale model of Starship Super Heavy with TVC and two stages.
Now Sentinel.Inc is a company consists only of Interns and Teens who are passionate about Science and Business and would like to gain experience in those fields.
Thanks to all who supports the project (monetary or morally), especially to Alice and Konstantin, who made a great contribution to the development of Sentinel.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you have a degree? If not, how did you learn rocketry?
I've graduated from School of Musicians in my native town in Ukraine, if that counts! Otherwise, I picked up a few textbooks, found a few good YouTube channels about engineering and rocketry, and got to work replicating and experimenting!
Right now, Sentinel.Inc is self-funded. I try to gain money from YouTube channel and spend all my extra money on equipment for rockets during month. Sentinel.Inc is getting a proper and part-time job for me (Tim). It can be funded trough product sales, ad revenue on YouTube, the Sentinel.Inc YouTube sponsors, and other sponsorship.
Yes, because I don't have any commercially available propellants in Ukraine. Now a current construction is common home made type of rocket motors - sugar motor. It's easy to produce in high quantity and it doesn't require expensive hardware. I continue searching for the best proportion of components for propellant to achieve highest stability and less explosive :)
Here's a list of what I use, but as a heads up, my equipment is relatively cheap and specific tools aren't that important. There are lots of excellent tools out there and the most important part is that you're good at the tools you use.
CAD - Tinkercad, Onshape
3D slicer - PrusaSlicer
3D printer - Anycubic Kobra 2
Flight simulation - OpenRocket/Simulink
Coding language - Arduino/C++
How is Sentinel.Inc funded?
Do you make your own motors?
What software/printer/etc do you use?