Kerim Hmaied, The genius who made the TUNISIAN ROCKET!!

At first glance, he doesn’t look like any other that I have met, a slight smile reflecting self-confidence and bright eyes revealing a mysterious smartness.  Graduated from al Sadikia high school, then he carries his studies in the higher institute of information and communication in Sfax and now he is about to finish his engineering cycle in the ESPRIT University. He is “Kerim Hmaied” the first Tunisian who made and launched a rocket, the famous “Carthage 01”… the first Tunisian Rocket.

 How did it begin the passion with rockets?

Well, when I was young I was participating in scouts camping, I remember when we were alone in the forest I was always looking to the stars and the moon in the sky and wondering “how could we reach these stars?”, then I joined the association of youth & science in 2003, which is a scientific association, I participated with them in a scientific camping in Raoued where we started to make some micro rockets. Then I joined an amateur club in Khadra-city which is specialized in the construction of some robotics and small-rockets, they provided us with a quality traineeship and a little bit of experience in the field. I think that it was a good beginning for me. I started to gain a good experience and to establish my own knowledge based on this traineeship among the club parallel with all research that I made from the internet. 

How did you get the idea of making Carthage Rocket?

After strengthening my gained knowledge I was asking myself “why I don’t make a greater rocket?” and it was a challenge for me to make a greater rocket. I used to make a micro rocket with 30 centimeter length and a diameter of 20 millimeter, so what about a rocket with 1 meter length and a 80 millimeter in diameter and more sophisticated functionality I used my knowledge in mechanics, electronics, IT, aerodynamics, flight and of course some friends give a hand in the project, Then challenge accepted!

Why you have chosen the name “Carthage” for your rocket?

(Smiling) I was looking for a name which represents the whole Tunisia, I have rejected all names which represent a region or a specific place, and finally I have chosen the name “Carthage” referring to the Carthaginian Empire and even the name “Carthage” is a famous one all over the word and localizes precisely the location of Tunisia where the rocket was being made.

Kerim, have you participated in any international competition?

Yes, I tried to participate in 2009 in an international competition in France with my rocket “Carthage 01” but I had some problems and unfortunately I couldn’t participate. Then in 2010, I participated with a friend in the same competition held in France, we spent all time running after the administration papers to go to our destination, that’s why, when we were in the military base in France to participate, we weren’t technically ready nor the Rocket Carthage 01 was ready and we only tried to reinforce our knowledge in the field of aeronautics from other participants and yes we gained more experience which helps us to ameliorate “Carthage 01”. I came back to France in 2011, after the revolution, to participate again in the same competition. A committee came to me, tested and inspected my rocket and gives me a certificate of flight and told me to come back tomorrow.

The next day, and by luck, the launch of my rocket was in the VIP day with many rockets from Russia, France, Japan, Austria and Australia. They called me to come to the launch side, I went there, rocket on my shoulder, I positioned it in the launch base, waited for the long countdown: ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one and launch, I pressed the launch button; I will never forget that moment when I saw “Carthage 01” rises and moves away in sky … Carthage 01 was the only Arabian and African rocket…it represented all Arab countries and that’s enough for me, I was very proud of my Rocket.

So can you know tell me about all obstacles and barriers that faced you?

First of all, in 2009, when I sent my request to the French committee to participate in the competition, the committee called the interior ministry to investigate about me. After a couple of hours, the Tunisian Anti-Terrorist Squad knocked my door and then all my problems began. I was arrested for 3 days in the center of Anti-Terrorism and I was accused of making Rockets and participating in terrorist groups but after hitting and investigating they decided to release me but their harassments continued until the revolution.

Can you give any advices to young Tunisians?

Yes I want to say just dream and work hard, nothing is impossible, you just need willingness, believe in yourselves, and be creative.

-Benyamin-

Posted in: Science