Electronics
“Fix your little problem and light this candle.”
Alan Shepard
The Electronics team within the THRUST student project is responsible for designing and integrating the vital electrical systems that power the rocket’s avionics, telemetry, and communication systems. Their work begins with developing the circuitry and components that will manage the rocket’s various functions, such as sensor data collection, GPS tracking, and in-flight adjustments. The team focuses on ensuring that all electronics are lightweight, durable, and capable of operating in the harsh conditions of spaceflight, including extreme temperatures and vibrations. This ensures that the rocket can maintain communication and control throughout its mission.
Beyond design, the Electronics team oversees the implementation of key systems like the flight computer, which is the brain of the rocket. The flight computer is responsible for interpreting sensor data and executing commands in real time, such as controlling the propulsion system and initiating stage separations. The team ensures this system is both reliable and responsive, conducting extensive simulations and bench tests to validate its performance under mission conditions. They also design redundant systems to safeguard against any failures, ensuring the rocket’s mission can proceed smoothly even in case of unexpected issues.
The Electronics team is also heavily involved in post-launch data analysis, as they set up and monitor the telemetry systems that record the rocket’s performance during flight. This data is transmitted to ground stations in real time, allowing the team to track the rocket’s trajectory, speed, and other critical metrics. By analyzing this data, the team can assess the success of the mission and identify areas for improvement in future launches. Their work is central to ensuring the rocket performs as expected, and the feedback from their systems plays a crucial role in optimizing subsequent designs.