Launch Systems Project List
LS1: DAQ and Launch Pad Electronics
Description
Rockets are dangerous; therefore, a control system is needed so testing and launch procedures can be completed from a safe distance by a simple click from our control station.
Whether it’s a hot fire or launch time, we are there to deliver. Data acquisition is the relentless stream of information that keeps the team aware of every tiny heartbeat in the rocket; temperature, real-time pressure, tank mass, and safe and reliable valve actuation. In the DAQ project you will learn how such data is used to enhance the rocket’s design and performance. We use a variety of sensors along with adapted circuitry, a setup that helps the team improve the combustion chamber, the injector, the valves, etc.
In this project, you will:
Help improve and implement a new DAQ and control system at the test site and the launch pad.
Sharpen your PCB design and debugging skills.
Understand how the launch pad system works as a whole.
Although we are known as the electrical wizards of launch systems, we’re a team that you’d want to join no matter what your engineering background is.
LS2: Fill System
Description
The fill system is our rocket’s full service gas station. It safely supplies our oxidizer – nitrous oxide – to the rocket, monitors pressure levels, and disconnects the fill line from the rocket when we’re ready to launch.
As we gear up to launch Ancalagon (our highest flying rocket ever), the fill plumbing, fill disconnect, and tank stand require serious upgrades. Now we are working with more nitrous than ever and need some serious infrastructure to accommodate it. In order to fill the rocket with multiple bottles of nitrous, there will be 2 fill disconnects that attach to the rocket and fill the tank with oxidizer. This provides the opportunity to research, design, and manufacture a system that will fill the rocket for launch. To test Ancalagon’s new features, we will also upgrade test site infrastructure so that we can analyze and validate our new systems. You will be at the forefront of this change and help us design a safe, robust and effective fill system that will serve us well for many competitions to come!
LS3: Structures
Description
The Launch Systems team is dedicated to developing the ground-based systems crucial for the successful launch of our rockets. The 2024-2025 design cycle will have two main focuses: Designing and constructing a brand-new tower that is stronger, easier to assemble, and includes additional features for enhanced functionality and refining components of the base, rigging, and lifting system to create the safest and most effective launch infrastructure possible.
Our new Student Researched and Developed (SRAD) launch tower represents a significant advancement in design and functionality. The tower's primary roles include providing robust structural support, raising the rocket to the optimal launch angle, and guiding it during the initial stages of flight. With enhanced stability features and a design optimized for launch angles, mass, and lifting, this tower will be a key asset in our launch infrastructure.
In addition to the launch tower, the project also involves validating and improving test site structures such as the thrust and tank stands, and refining anchoring systems. This provides opportunities to participate in hotfire tests and other critical evaluations, with the ultimate goal of having Launch Systems personnel run these tests independently next year.
Key aspects of this year’s project will include:
Launch Tower: Research different materials and geometries to design a tower that is strong, modular, and has sturdy attachment points for the rail guide and all rigging (research and simulation heavy).
Mechanical Lifting System: Refine the lifting system by analyzing forces on the various pulleys, trusses, and the gin pole (math and coding heavy).
Anchoring and Stability: Refine ground anchor and guy wire systems for ease of assembly.
Tilt and Pivot Mechanisms: Refine the pivoting system to ensure smooth and controlled adjustments to the launch angle.
Safety Features: Incorporate safety systems to prevent tipping or uncontrolled movements during the launch sequence.
As a member of this project, you will engage in research, design, CAD modeling, manufacturing, and testing of various tower and test site components. Your work will involve hands-on testing and iterative design, allowing you to see your contributions directly impact the performance and reliability of the launch systems. Additionally, this project requires machining many components, so you will learn to use power tools and watch the system come together by your own hands.
This project offers valuable experience in design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA), as well as practical skills in handling large structural systems. If you enjoy bringing designs from concept to reality and want to play a critical role in the success of our high-thrust rocket launches and test operations, the Launch Systems Structures project is the perfect opportunity for you!
