Recovery Projects
RC1: Parachutes and Harness
On the Parachutes and Harness project, we strive to develop an effective parachute and harness configuration to safely return the rocket from its highest point (the apogee) back to the ground. There are two parachutes to consider in rocket recovery. These include the smaller drogue parachute which deploys first to stabilize and slow the rocket, followed by the larger main parachute to further slow the rocket for its final descent. The harness connects these parachutes to the rocket and is arranged in a way that allows it to control the sequence in which the parachutes are deployed. Designing this system requires careful testing to ensure that the parachutes deploy properly and that both the parachutes and harness are strong enough to withstand the high force brought on by the inflation of the parachutes, also called the opening shock.
Project members will gain hands-on experience throughout the manufacturing and testing stages. This means that students will cut and sew components together to form our parachute, as well as take part in numerous tests to gather relevant data on the parachutes and harness.
RC2: Ejection
Ejection is the parachute deployment process that separates the nosecone from the rocket body, and it is conventionally accomplished through the combustion of black powder. However, as we strive towards launching higher altitude rockets, an alternative to traditional black powder ejection is needed since the lack of oxygen becomes a problem for proper combustion of the black powder. The alternative ejection system will be more suitable since it does not rely on combustion for pressurization. Many options have been considered and evaluated, but currently we’ve decided on a gas (pneumatic) piston system. This system consists of a gas reservoir connected to two valves which allow the pressurization and expansion of the pistons at apogee. The system needs to break the shear pins and push the nosecone off the body of the rocket, allowing the deployment of the parachutes.
As part of the ejection project, you will be contributing at every point of the design phase. Your job includes finalizing the architecture of the ejection system, designing and modeling the parts, testing the new ejection system, and many more! (There may even be some secret projects for you to do!) We’re excited to welcome you to ejection soon!
RC3: High-Altitude Balloon (HAB)
The High Altitude Balloon (HAB) project is an exciting initiative at MRT. We launch payloads combined with a control system via balloon to altitudes of up to 10,000 metres to provide a high-altitude testing environment for various equipment, such as parachutes and antennas. Two HABs were launched in the last design cycle, helping us to accumulate valuable data and experience and improve the quality and efficiency of our design and launch processes. The recovered data included information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, GNSS log and descent rates, as well as visual observations of component performance, all of which are essential for validating our research.
By joining the HAB project, you'll have the opportunity to design, build and launch high-altitude balloons. You will participate in every stage of the project, from the initial design to the final launch and recovery. Whether you're interested in structural design or electronics, there's something for everyone in this project. It's a great opportunity for experienced individuals to apply their knowledge, and also perfect for ambitious newcomers who want to learn about different subsystems along the way.
Join the HAB team as part of a multidisciplinary project that pushes the boundaries of innovation!
RC4: Blast Chamber
The ejection of the nose cone is vital to the recovery process. A lot of testing goes on to make sure this step is smooth and that our ejection mechanism is functioning. However, as the team moves on to higher altitude rockets, more rigorous testing is required to ensure the ejection algorithm is reliable and accurate. Under high altitude conditions, the different parameters that intervene with this ejection differ (notably pressure and temperature). This project aims to design and create a closed vacuum environment equipped with a data acquisition (DAQ) system in order to test both the ejection and accuracy of its governing algorithm.
As a member of this project you will be tasked with designing and manufacturing improvements and upgrades to the current blast chamber as well as testing the current setup, ensuring it is a sealed vacuum chamber capable of withstanding low pressure conditions and won’t damage the rocket during testing. You will also be in charge of designing a DAQ system for the chamber’s experiments. This is a fun project for new members looking to get some hands-on experience and learn about the iterative design process.