Problem:

External, uncontrollable forces can cause an undesired change in the apogee and trajectory of a high powered rocket flight. Through the implementation of custom-built, autonomously controlled canards, the rocket will maximize its vertical ascent, to minimize divergence from simulated flight targets, by counteracting the ungovernable forces.

Objectives:

• Determine and understand the overarching aerodynamic forces at play during flight.

• Determine how to stabilize the rocket's trajectory via active control surfaces.

• Develop a method to measure the required parameters to predict the rocket's present trajectory.

• Automate the correction of the rocket’s trajectory using the three requirements listed above.

• Design potential active control system configurations.

• Test and analyze the proposed control systems to determine the most appropriate system.

• Test the entire assembly by both utilizing software only and hardware in the loop testing architecture.

• Ultimately fly a high powered rocket with active control surfaces to stabilize the flight path.

• Actively document processes and create a final technical report.

Launch Platform:

By utilizing the high-powered, 6" diameter rocket Astraea from The Mississippi State Space Cowboys, we plan to create a control system that will stabilize and maximize a launch's vertical flight profile. We plan to replace one payload superstructure with our proposed system. The choice of rocket ensures that our system has ample volume for electronics, substantial payload mass variability, and a large flight profile of 15,000 feet.