Project Aramis (2020-2021)

Project Aramis is a COTS solid propulsion system rocket with a target apogee of 30,000 ft, i.e. a 30K rocket. It is a continuation of the rocket that began development in the summer of 2019 but was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This project strives to further refine the team’s composite manufacturing methods and avionics solutions as we transition towards developing a fully (SRAD) rocket which will be powered by a hybrid engine.

Specifically, we improved the percentage of acceptable parts of our in-house (VARI) method and the quality of the parts produced. This year, the aerostructures subteam is also implementing its first SRAD boat tail. Additionally, the avionics have been redesigned to provide increased resistance to vibrations, increased redundancy in communications to facilitate recovery of the rocket, and a more efficient use of space.

Project Aramis is intended to be the final COTS rocket launched by the team.

Most of the airframe is to be manufactured using composites through the team’s in-house VARI manufacturing method. Composites parts include the nose cone, two body tubes, three fins, a boat-tail, and three couplers, all made from either carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) or glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP). The CFRP engine tube will house the COTS motor, while the GFRP midtube will contain the avionics bay and recovery harness. The single-separation, dual-deployment recovery system will make use of chamber pressurization via the combustion of (BP) for ejection to initiate drogue deployment, and SRAD tender descenders for main deployment at 457 m (1500 ft).

Each deployment event is designed to be redundantly initiated using COTS and SRAD avionics solutions mounted in the avionics bay. This bay will also house radio equipment to communicate telemetry data from the rocket to the ground station. Our bioaerosol experiment, stored in the nose cone, will collect an air sample from the troposphere and store itin the rocket for further lab analysis following rocket recovery. The bio-sampling payload is possible thanks to the help of the MI4. The nose cone will also contain a second smaller avionics bay with a second SRAD telemetry system, basedaround a 450 MHz radio transceiver device.

Overall, aside from the motor and redundant COTS avionics, we are proud to say that the entire rest of the rocket is fully SRAD.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has been unable to complete and launch project Aramis for the Summer 2021 as planned. The Project is on hold and would be used as a backup rocket if the team was unable to complete Project Athos our 10K SRAD hybrid.