Recovery Project List
RC1: High-Altitude Balloon (HAB)
Description
A high-altitude balloon (HAB) is a type of balloon launched to high altitudes to run experiments. For the MRT, the balloon serves as a useful platform to test components of the rocket, run avionics and payload tests, as well as recovery tests upon retrieval of the balloon. Running tests using the balloon helps ensure that all of our subsystems are ready for launch inside our rocket. Last year, we launched three high-altitude balloons, achieved a two out of three recovery rate, improved on-board systems, and validated our flight predictor, all while filming two HAB vlogs. The HAB team also visited the Canadian Space Agency’s stratospheric balloon program (STRATOS), which helped us improve our on-board designs.
As a member of the HAB team, you will be tasked with designing, manufacturing and launching high-altitude balloons, as well as planning out the logistics of said launches. You also get to see your experiment fly to high-altitudes. The balloon also requires a data acquisition (DAQ) system, a payload, and a recovery system, all to be tested. The HAB is a multidisciplinary project that is perfect for ambitious new members who want to learn about multiple subsystems!
Keywords
High-altitude balloon, multidisciplinary, flight predictor, flight computer, termination system
Timeline
Medium-term (1 year), renewed yearly
Requirements
Someone creative and resourceful!
Any of the following is a plus:
Experience with coding
Experience with electronics
Experience with CAD
Resources
RC2: Ejection 10K
Description
Once the rocket has reached apogee, an ejection system separates the nose cone from the body tube, allowing the recovery harness and parachutes to come out to allow for recovery. In the past, MRT has utilized black powder and CO2 in order to pressurize the ejection chamber and break shear pins that hold the rocket’s airframe together. Black powder ejection works first with the actuation of an E-match by the avionics flight computer at apogee, which ignites the black powder causing an explosive combustion reaction. This pressurizes the ejection chamber, causing the force needed to break the shear pins.
As part of the ejection team, you will be both iterating on the team’s previous ejection system designs. You will need to design, manufacture, and perform component testing inside the team’s SRAD vacuum blast chamber. You will also need to perform systems tests, where the ejection system will be integrated into the rocket airframe to determine if ejection can be successfully achieved.
The 10k ejection project will also be working on developing a Recovery Calculator using Java (Swing GUI), in order to calculate various aspects of the recovery subsystems, such as black powder quantities.
Keywords
Design, testing, manufacturing, programming, CAD
Timeline
Medium-term (1 year)
Requirements
Someone resourceful
Either of the following is a plus:
Experience with CAD
Ability to generate machine drawings
Experience with programming (especially Java)
Resources
RC3: Ejection 60K
Description
As we strive towards launching a 60K rocket, an alternative to traditional black powder ejection is needed. This alternate ejection system will be more suitable for higher-altitude applications than black powder, since it does not rely purely on combustion for pressurization. Some possible alternatives are either CO2 or nitrogen pressurized ejection systems. Fully mechanical ejection systems are also a possibility but these systems will require more hardware.
Both CO2 and nitrogen have relatively slow pressurization rates when compared to black powder. Thus, leaks in the ejection chamber are particularly problematic. The system therefore needs to be properly tested and the gas expansion process must be characterized to ensure a useful design.
As part of the 60K ejection team, you will design, manufacture, and perform prototype testing inside the vacuum blast chamber as well as small scale testing. You will also perform systems tests, where the 60K ejection system will be integrated into the rocket airframe to determine if ejection can be successfully achieved.
Keywords
Design, testing and manufacturing
Timeline
Long-term (2 years)
Requirements
Someone resourceful
Either of the following is a plus:
Experience with CAD
Ability to generate machine drawings
Experience to conduct FEA analysis
Resources
RC4: Blast Chamber
Description
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, in high altitude environments, the different parameters that intervene with this ejection differ (notably pressure and temperature). This project aims to design and create a closed vacuum environment for the team to test small-scale explosions such as recovery ejection tests with pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic ejection devices. The blast chamber project also requires a data acquisition (DAQ) system to collect and analyze experimental data, ensuring a meticulous understanding of the system.
As a member of this project you will be tasked with designing, manufacturing and testing the blast chamber, 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 design process.
Keywords
Research, design, manufacturing, testing
Timeline
Long-term (1.5 years)
Requirements
Someone resourceful
Either of the following is a plus:
Experience with CAD
Experience with progarmming
Experience with tooling
Resources
RC5: Parachutes and Harness 10K
Description
Once the rocket is launched and reaches its highest altitude of 10,000 ft, it needs a parachute strong enough to ensure a gentle landing. Parachutes come in many different shapes so one of your first goals will be to come up with the shape, material and dimensions of the parachute. You will also have to design the harness, which is what connects the different parts of the rocket that have separated after ejection.
After coming up with various designs, you will be sewing parachute prototypes and performing testing to determine the most effective geometry. The rocket will have two parachutes, a drogue and a main, with the drogue being the smaller parachute that deploys before the main to reduce opening shock when the larger parachute comes out. A three-ring release system will be used to deploy the main at a set altitude. Parachute testing will also be used to determine the drag coefficient and other variables which will be plugged into simulations to estimate the shock forces during parachute opening. Sewing will be a huge part of this part of this project as we will be sewing both parachutes after determining the most effective design. It is then critical that you have an interest in sewing!
Keywords
Design, simulations, testing, parachutes, sewing
Timeline
Medium-term (one year)
Requirements
Interest/experience in sewing
Someone creative and willing to learn
Someone who is dedicated, patient, and resourceful
Resources
RC6: Parachutes and Harness 60K
Description
Parachutes are essential to ensure the safety of the rocket upon descent. The new 60K rocket will be larger and heavier than the current 10K rocket and as a result, we will be designing a new kind of parachute – a reefing parachute. This parachute incorporates a reefing line which allows the canopy size to be adjusted, effectively combining the drogue parachute (a smaller parachute deployed before the main) and the main parachute into one.
This project involves a comprehensive R&D process that combines designing, manufacturing, electronics, and testing. We will begin by researching parachute geometries and materials to determine the appropriate design and then manufacture prototypes for testing. To test the prototypes, we’ll design a testing jig for parachutes and perform tensile testing on sewn samples to determine the stitching strengths. This multi-faceted project will also include designing the electrical wiring and reefing cutters necessary for a full-canopy opening and CFD modelling to determine the parachute’s drag coefficient. We will also be performing wind tunnel testing and running descent simulations to determine the parachute’s opening shock.
Keywords
R&D, reefing parachutes, simulations, testing, electronics
Timeline
Long-term (2 years)
Requirements
Someone dedicated and creative, willing to research and try new ideas
Any of the following is a plus:
Experience with sewing or manufacturing
Ability to perform CFD analysis
Experience with electronics and wiring
Resources
