* The last couple of weeks we have been working on fine tuning the flight computer software, the on board camera optics, and the replacement recovery system.*
The flight computer is up and running on a 2400 baud link. Transmitting 3 dimensional inertial measurement data at 24 Hz. Some Digital Signal Processing bells and whistles will be added over the next few days. A graphical data acquisition program is being developed to do real time monitoring of the sensors.
The interface plate computer code is done and working great. It was successfully tested in a low pressure environment last weekend.
The new 8 ft diameter hemispherical main parachute, to replace the one destroyed in testing a few weeks ago, was tested to simulate the opening forces placed upon it during descent. It's extraction and deployment by the drogue was tested at 55 mph out the back of a pickup. It worked great.
Still no definite word from the FAA on weather or not they will grant us a waiver. We have been in communication with them and are still working on it. We should know something in the next couple of days.
We are still planing on a February 7th launch.
Photo's :
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Flight Computer streaming Acceleration, Gyro, Temperature and Pressure data to laptop computer. |
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Block diagram of Interface Plate Release electronics |
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Getting rocket and truck ready for deployment test of new main parachute. |
Movies :
| Deploy55.mpg |
55 mph deployment of main parachute on drogue. |