Golden Spike, Aggie Horizon
Team: Christian Barr, Derek Bartlett, Parker Bellon, Parker Brough, Trent Chipman, Zachary Coleman, John Cone, Katelyn Fiveash, Aidan Fleischmann, Michael Fretz, Sam Mulhall, Emily Parry, Kjersten Segura, Theo Troester-Solbrig and Kael Whitney
International Rocketry Engineering Competition (IREC)
The International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) is the world's largest collegiate rocket engineering competition, bringing together student teams from around the world to design, build, and launch high-powered rockets to target altitudes of 10,000, 30,000, or 45,000 feet while carrying a 2 kg payload.
Requirements
| Â | Target | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 10,000 ft | 3000 - 3100 m (9,843 - 10,171 ft) |
| Damage | No Damage |
Minor Damage, Flight Capable |
| Payload | Completes Mission | Deploys |
Conclusions
- A successful test launch indicated the team is prepared for the competition with minor revisions.
- Integration is often the hardest part of Engineering. Early and frequent testing is the best way to avoid conflicts.
- Refinement of the ACS system should be conducted with frequent test flights
DRAGON (Deployable Rover And Global Observation Node)
- Objective: Develop a rocket deployed 3U mobile weather station.
- Method: Communicates with the enclosure via Bluetooth to release after landing is detected. Autonomously drives out and collects temperature, Humidity, Pressure, and GPS data. Uses mesh ready LoRa network to transmit data and logs data onboard.
Flight Simulation
- Importance: to effectively test control systems, an accurate simulation of the rocket was tested and validated
- Method: we designed a high speed variable drag flight model with the ability to embed a control system in Simulink
- Validation: the final apogee predictions with and without flaps were compared to individual test cases in proven flight software, and the results were within 200 ft.
Airframe Subsystem
The main body of the rocket is built with carbon fiber composite cylinders. The nosecone and rocket fins are made of fiberglass composite material. Each piece was planned and cut out using a Dremel tool with graphite cutting wheels. Holes and fillets were drilled using drill presses or hand drills with high-speed steel and graphite drill bits. All cuts and holes were additionally sanded down to provide a smoother surface finish and sealed with a composite glue to prevent fraying of the composite fibers.
Telemetry
Flight Computer
Altitude Control System
Nosecone
Fore Body Tube
Avionics Coupler
Aft Body Tube
Fin Can
Payload
Telemetry
- Objective: Collect continuous GPS data and FPV video
- Method: A commercial GPS receiver logs and transmits live location information
- The Telemetry Module was designed to collect, record, and transmit continuous GPS data as well as live FPV at 1080p 60 FPS. This ensures real-time flight monitoring and a comprehensive post-flight analysis.
Recovery
- Objective: Deploy the drogue parachute at apogee and the main parachute at 1000 ft to safely and effectively recover the Golden Spike
- Method: Use the RRC3 (primary flight computer) to sense apogee to deploy the drogue and set the main deployment altitude to be 1000 ft to reduce impact velocity to ~ 9.84 ft/s. The RRC3 and RRC2+ (redundant flight computer) trigger black powder charges that separate the rocket into pieces to deploy the parachutes.
Altitude Control System
- Objective: to limit the rocket to an apogee of 10,000 ft.
- Method: using inertial navigation and predictive guidance the ACS modifies drag to achieve a target apogee
- Mechanical Design: a high torque multi rotation servo rotates petal gears into the airstream.
The Aggie Horizon Team
Team Lead: Michael Fretz, michael.fretz@usu.edu
Subsystem Leads: Parker Bellon, parker.bellon@gmail.com; John "Johnny" Cone, a02400085@usu.edu; Emily Parry, a02343971@usu.edu; Kjersten "Kj" Segura, segura.kjersten@gmail.com; Kael Whitney, kaelwhitney@gmail.com
Team Members: Christian Barr, a02452671@usu.edu; Derek Bartlett, a02392566@usu.edu; Parker Brough, parkerbrough2@gmail.com; Trent Chipman, a02324069@usu.edu; Zachary Coleman, zach.b.coleman@usu.edu, Katelyn Fiveash, a02377933@usu.edu; Aidan Fleischmann, a.fleischmann@usu.edu; Jerith Larsen jerith.larsen@gmail.com; Sam Mulhall, a02385756@usu.edu; Theo Troester-Solbrig, a02332813@usu.edu
Faculty Advisor and Mentors: Jackson Graham, Wyatt Daugs, Joel Ellsworth, Zachary Foster, and Joe Pfeiffer