Project Viikate

Project Viikate is a student-led rocketry project focused on developing a guided rocket using actively controlled canards. Our goal is to design, build, and fly a rocket capable of stabilizing and steering itself in flight.

Inspired by Finnish folklore, Project Viikate follows the example of the Kalevala's smith Ilmarinen, who mastered the once-feared material, steel by forging it himself — turning the unknown into a tool through understanding. In the same spirit, we approach complex aerospace systems not as something to avoid, but to explore, build, and ultimately master.

In the currently ongoing first phase, the rocket will actively stabilize its roll axis. This allows us to validate our control algorithms, mechanical design, and avionics, while enabling smooth onboard video capture.

In the second phase, the goal is to expand the system to include pitch and yaw control, exploring more advanced guidance capabilities and improved flight behavior.

Project Viikate combines mechanical design, embedded systems, control theory, and flight testing into a single platform, providing valuable hands-on experience for the team and a foundation for more advanced rocketry systems.