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Intro to Recovery Nov 17

What is a successful recovery?

  • all parts of the rocket are collected
    • gps tracking, rocket doesnt split apart from shock loading
  • reflyable conditions
    • safe descent velocities

How to have a successful recovery

  • mechanical and electronic validations
    • many components are mechanically tested
    • all electronics chanrges are wired properly
    • vehicle has been ground tested and electrionics are able to set off charges
    • separates enough to let parachute out.

Recovery components

  • drogue parachute
  • main parachute
  • shock cord
  • bulkhead
  • parachute bag
  • u bolt

Drouge parachute should be close to center of mass

common types of parachute

  • Torodial, pulled down parachute
  • ringsail
  • flat parachute
  • disk gap band

What is shock load?

  • instantaneous force of parachute opening and catching more air

How do we choose our parachutes?

  • want to balance our descent velocity and shock lead.
  • descent veolity usually <30ft/s for compentitnions
  • shock load: all parts of system must be rated enough to withstand (w/ FOS)

Avionics bays

  • the part itself is called a "sled"
  • two altimeters, all on a removable bulkhead

How are tubes separated?

  • most commonly: we pressurize the tube to break the shear pins holding yhe stuff together
  • the motor eject ignites a delay grain which ignites blackpoweder in yellow cap of motor.
  • release COT to pressurize the tube.

Parachute retention

  • Jolly Logic
    • rubber band holds the parachute
  • tender descender
    • holds the stress of the rocket, when the descender releases, very hard to get quite right
  • Line cutters
    • if the parachute is ziptied closed, the ziptie is cut by the piston after blackpowder detonation.