Design of a reusable rocket model with devices allowing safe sea landing

Abstract

This project details the design of a reusable, small model rocket, which is capable of landing safely over a body of water. Said design includes all the structural components of the rocket and their acquisition, including both commercial components and self-manufactured ones. What makes this rocket stand out among common HPR is the landing system, which consists of a buoyancy device in ated with CO2 during the controlled descent of the rocket. However, this system alone would not guarantee the reusability of the rocket after being launched towards the sea. To ensure the recovery of the rocket, two GPS antennas linked to any conventional smartphone are used. Furthermore, an Arduino-controlled mechanism ensures the tightness of the electronic bay, thus preventing the negative effects water would have on the elements it contains. A structural study is performed to estimate the stresses induced in the rocket during ight and to verify the rocket can comfortably withstand them. Thermal analysis is also conducted to demonstrate that aerodynamic heating is not a threat to the integrity of the rocket. The assembly and refurbishment strategies are presented, to explain how the rocket is expected to be built. Since the construction of the rocket is not part of the project, these strategies will not be checked first-hand. As an alternative, a thorough inspection is made to make sure there are no incompatible actions. Finally, a series of tests of the in atable system were performed. They included the real in ation system and a mock-up of the in atable device. Some conclusions that affected the design of the system were drawn, and the necessary corrective actions were taken