Sounding Rocket PDR

Team Name
 Instructions
● Slides are a template describing information needed.
● Each section can be expanded into more slides as needed. Don't try
cramming each listed topic on the same slide.
● Place team/school logo in the top left corner.
● Put page numbers on the slides.
● Formatting and background can be customized.
● Do not include animations or videos as reviewers may not have compatible
software.
● Submit PDR in pdf format for maximum compatibility.
● A PDR should focus on trade studies, CDR should focus on final design.
● Use consistent units (metric or standard).
● Do not include this slide in the presentation. Yes, some one will.
 Presentation Outline

● Provide a simple outline of the presentation

● Indicate team member(s) who will present each section
 Team Organization

● Single slide listing team members and role

● Can use an organization chart
 Acronyms

● Provide a list of acronyms used throughout the presentation

− Used as reference only. Does not need to be read through
System Overview
 Mission Summary

● Overview of mission objectives

● Include any external objectives
 System Requirement Summary

● Overview of system (mission) level requirements

− Use table to demonstrate understanding of requirements
− Include requirements for the payload
− Include requirements for the rocket
 System Level Trade and Selection

● Present two preliminary overall design concepts considered

− Configurations of rocket and Payload
− Break up into two teams to come up with independent designs
● Present criteria for final configuration selection
● Include sketches and diagrams of various concepts considered.
 System Concept of Operations

● Provide overview of operations of the system from launch to

landing to Payload operations.
− Launch and descent operations
− Payload operations
− Post-launch recovery
● Simple flow diagrams and cartoons are a good way to present
the CONOPS
Rocket Design
 Design of Rocket
● Describe overall rocket design
○ A drawing of the rocket identifying all of its components and dimensions
■ Length and diameter
○ Identify major components and locations
■ Nose cone
■ Number of fins and size
■ Location and size of rail buttons
■ Location of avionics bay if using electronics deployment with
altimeter(s)
● Total on the pad weight of the rocket with the primary and backup motors.
○ This includes:
■ All recovery harnesses and parachutes
■ Primary or backup motor

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 Design of Rocket (continued)

● Identify the rocket’s stability. The center of gravity (CG) must be ahead of
the center of pressure (CP) by at least one diameter (caliber) of your rocket.
■ With primary motor
■ With backup motor
● Motor retention method
■ Friction fit is specifically disallowed

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 Rocket Materials

● List of materials used:

○ Airframe material
○ Fin material
○ Nose cone material
○ Type of adhesives used
○ Rail button source and material

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 Rocket Recovery System

● Parachute selection
○ Size of and how determined
○ Identify method for protecting parachute and rationale for
choice
○ Dual deploy?
○ What is the expected descent rate(s)
● Harness
○ Show drawing of recovery harnesses for each part of rocket
○ Type of shock cord, lengths and strengths
○ Identify linkages and load limits
○ Attachment points, eyebolts, fender washers, etc. and their
mounting methods

15
 Rocket Recovery System Deployment Method

● Document method of initiating recovery

○ Altimeter(s)
○ Parachute release mechanism
○ Motor ejection - specify motor delay in seconds for
■ Primary motor
■ Secondary motor
● Any rockets using VMAX motors must use an altimeter that
deploys the parachutes as per Tripoli and NAR rules.

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 Rocket Recovery Electronics - if used

● Identify which commercial altimeter(s) will be used

● Show wiring diagram of altimeters with charges
● Document the number and size of the pressure ports for altimeter
● Document altimeter preparation steps.
○ Specify the quantity of black powder to be used to separate each section
○ Specify the volume of the section to be pressurized with calculated
pressure level
● Document charge size testing and results
● Specify how sections are secured before the ejection charges separate
sections
○ friction fit
○ shear pins - number and size
○ Other
● Identify how charges are fired
○ e-matches
○ other

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 Altitude Recording Altimeter

● Identify the commercial altimeter to be used to officially record the rocket’s

altitude
○ If using a commercial altimeter for deployment, it can be designated the
altitude recording altimeter

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 Rocket Motor Selection
● Identify primary motor selection
● Calculate thrust to on pad weight ratio using average thrust of the primary
motor
○ Thrust to weight ratio must be a minimum of 5:1
● Identify back up motor selection and what changes to rocket would be
required to successfully comply with contest rules
● Calculate thrust to on pad weight ratio using average thrust of the backup
motor
○ Thrust to weight ratio must be a minimum of 5:1
● Include a simulation plot for the primary motor
● Include a simulation plot for the backup motor

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Payload Design
 Payload Design Overview

● Show block diagram or picture of payload

− Identify major components
− Dimensions
 Mechanical Layout and Component Trade and
Selection

● Trade study of mechanical design and structure of payload

− Show structure of Payload
− Identify location of major components
− Identify major mechanical parts
● Show at least two concepts
● Indicate selection and reasons for selection
 Mechanical Materials List

● Identify materials used for mechanical structure

 Payload Mass Budget

● Show mass of all components of the selected design

− Mass of each structural element in grams
− Sources/uncertainties – whether the masses are estimates,
from data sheets, measured values, etc.
− Total mass of all components and structural elements
− Margin : The amount of mass (in grams) in which the mass
budget meets, exceeds, or falls short of the mass
requirement
Payload Electronics
 Payload Electronics

● Electronic block diagram showing all major components

− Processors
− Memories
− Sensors
− Drivers for mechanisms and actuators
 Processor and Memory Trade and Selection

● Identify at least two different processors considered

− Specs of processor
− Power consumption
− Speed
− Interfaces
● Indicate selected design and reasons for selection
 Payload Altitude Sensor Trade

● Trade study of at least two sensors to be used in payload for

measuring altitude
● Indicate selected sensor and reasons for selection
 Payload Pitot Tube Sensor Trade

● Trade study of at least two sensors to be used in payload for

measuring speed
● Indicate selected sensor and reasons for selection
 Payload Accelerometer Sensor Trade

● Trade study of at least two sensors to be used in payload

● Indicate selected sensor and reasons for selection
 Bonus Sensors

● Identify two additional sensors and trade study for each

additional sensor
– GPS receiver can be an additional sensor
• If selected, identify mounting location in addition to providing sensor
information.
– Camera
• If selected,describe the camera and how the starting and end of recording
is selected.

● Indicate if no bonuses are being attempted

 Payload Radio Trade and Selection

● Trade study for radio selection

● Show at least two options
● Identify frequency operation
● Identify selection and reason for selection
 Payload Radio Antenna Trade and Selection

● Trade 1 Trade 2
− Trade study of antennas for the Payload ● Trade study of antennas for the
Payload
Type of antenna
− Type of antenna
Mounting location
− Mounting location
Potential interference issues with
structure − Potential interference issues with
structure
Antenna Gain
− Antenna Gain
− Identify selection and reasons for ● Identify selection and reasons for
selection selection

● Trade Decision (#1 or #2)

● Supporting evidence for decision (Why?)
 Payload Power Trade and Selection

● Trade study of power sources for Payload

− Battery selection and configuration
− Power capacity
− Mounting method
− Protection circuits
● Short circuit
● Over-discharge for lithium ion cells

● Identify selection and reason for selection

 Payload Power Distribution

● Electrical Power System Design

− Regulators
− Power distribution to subsystems, mechanisms, actuators
− Power management
 Payload Power Budget

● List power consumption of all electrical components

− All values are to be in watt-hours
− Compare to capacity of battery in watt-hours
● Identify how long Payload can operate on batteries
Software
 Payload Software Design

● Flow Chart of software

● Identify software states and how software transitions to each
state
− Power up
− Integration
− Launch
− Transmission (bonus)
− Landing
 Software Development Plan

● Describe plan for software development

● Include
− Prototyping and prototyping environments
− Software subsystem development sequence
− Development team
− Test methodology
Ground Station
 Ground Station Design

● Show block diagram of ground station

− Identify all major components
 Ground Station Antenna Trade and Selection

● Key trade issues for antenna trade and selection

− Type of antenna
− Antenna pattern
− Range calculation
− Identify if mounted or hand-held
 Ground Station Software

● Telemetry display (show prototype of display)

● Identify any commercial or open source software packages to
be used
● Real time plotting if implemented
 Ground Station Portability

● Explain how ground station can be made portable

● Battery operation life of ground station
Testing
 Payload Testing

● Describe testing of Payload subsystems

● Describe testing during subsystem integration
● Describe functional testing
 Rocket Testing

● Describe testing of rocket

− Parachute deployment testing
− Flight test
 Flight Operations

● Describe procedures during launch day

− Rocket preparation
− Payload Preparation
− Payload integration into rocket
− Preparations at the launch pad
− Payload arming process
 Program Schedule

● Show a Gantt chart schedule of the complete development

cycle up to contest date
− Component and service schedule
− When components are bought and lead times for components
− Services required (contract machining, PCB, etc.)
 Program Budget

● Show budget for all parts of the program

− Components
Separate rocket and payload costs
− Services
− Travel expenses
 Summary

● Describe state of development efforts, any accomplishments,

issues, and way forward