|
Highlights of recent developments on the MiniSShot Project
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Peter Kocalka has completed construction of the the Mini-ATV telemetry
module. Peter also reports that he has received the Main Computer (MC)
unit sent to him recently by Hans, and that he will attempt integration
of the complete system (GPS, TinyTrack, Mini-ATV and MC) this coming week.
- Rick Maschek has completed dissection of the MiniSShot motor that was
successfully test fired on July 25th. Initially Rick had trouble
removing the spent casting tubes from the aft motor chamber, which were
stuck fast. He then tried filling the chamber with an "ice slush"
solution, which did the trick and the casting tubes were removed.
Casting tube nearest the nozzle (although triumphant, Rick suffered a
cut hand while removing the spent tubes):
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc08926a.jpg
- Hans reports that the plans to fly the Main Computer at a DARK launch
continue to go well:
"Tommas Jensen and Henrik Schultz will fly the Main Computer aboard
their rockets. It seems likely that we can have a crude downlink through
a Maxstream modem onboard Henrik Schultz's rocket.
The location for the launch is the North Sea island of Rømø. You can see
it on Google Maps"
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=55.192294,8.524017&spn=0.03753,0.148487&t=h&z=14
- Hans also reports that he has updated the firmware for the Chute
Controller (CC) and forwarded it to Chris King who will be flying the CC
aboard the GHATR rocket in the near future.
"While trying out a new compiler for the psoc processor, I discovered an
"index out of bounds" kind of problem in the Chute Controller firmware.
I am not sure if it is serious, but it could possibly relate to the
timelock problem that Ed (Mallory) experienced a while ago"
- Leon Salisbury has sent the DTMF and FRS radio units to Richard. Leon
was not able to finish testing of the system, due to personal
constraints. Andre Alexandre will be taking up this work package (WP7).
Richard will forward the parts to Andre as soon as the parcel arrives.
- Hans has accepted Work Package 28 (WP28), which involves running
flight simulations based on the most up-to-date flight configuration
data such as using the thrust curves obtained from the July 25th motor
firing, and the latest vehicle configuration and mass data.
- Andre Alexandre reports that the flight version of the Vibration
Sensor has been completed, and plans to fly the unit aboard one of his
rockets is progressing well.
Photo of Vibration Sensor board:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/placa_foguete.jpg
- Andrew Nowakowski has fabricated one of the fins for the MiniSShot
rocket. The rough-formed fin, consisting of carbon fabric skins over a
structural foam core, will next be trimmed and sanded to the required
blueprint dimensions.
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/andrew_fin_dsc01027.jpg
*** Current Status of MiniSShot Flight Readiness - Tasks Remaining ***
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/minisshot_flight_readiness-tasks_remaining.pdf
------
Help the Sugar Shot to Space program continue to make great strides
toward our goal of reaching Space. A financial donation would be most
helpful: http://www.sugarshot.org/sponsors.html#Donors
|
Project
Description
