A feat in undergraduate engineering, the Low Altitude Demonstrator (LAD) is one of BURPG’s flagship technology demonstrators. At just over 14 feet tall, LAD contains technologies that are essential to the team’s future space shot rockets.
In the 2018 spring semester, BURPG assembled a team of twenty underclassmen engineers to design and develop a rocket that contains technologies that are essential to the group’s space shot vehicles. In a single semester, LAD was designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested proving as not only a feat in undergraduate engineering but also as a preparation exercise for the tight deadlines that are common in industry.
LAD is powered by a 3,200 lbf thrust P-Class solid motor developed by Mavericks Civilian Space Foundation and features a lightweight thrust structure to transfer that thrust into the 12 inch diameter fiberglass airframe. To control the rocket, LAD utilizes four cold-gas thrusters that are capable of holding and actuating the roll of the rocket. Finally, a carbon dioxide separation manifold is used to reliably deploy the rocket’s parachute when in oxygen deprived environments.
Low Altitude Demonstrator is a critical step in BURPG’s mission to fly a liquid bi-propellant rocket to space.
A handshake between our mechanical engineers and flight dynamics teams, a custom nosecone was designed to be able to withstand aerodynamic drags and forces on the vehicle. Made out of carbon fiber, the nosecone only weighs 4.89 lbm despite being 45 in in length.
One of the most important aspects of any vehicle is ensuring a safe and reliable recovery. Due to the altitude that LAD was flying, a new recovery system had to be designed. Once apogee is reached, the flight computer will ignite two E-Matches which ignite black powder. With that, two CO2 canisters will rupture, pressurizing a manifold and separating the nosecone from the forward airframe. From there, a drogue parachute and military-grade main parachute safely descend the rocket for recovery.
One of the primary purposes for flying LAD is to qualify our Reaction Control System (RCS). This system utilizes four GN2 thrusters that are able to control and correct the natural tendency for the rocket to roll. It is capable of forcing and holding the vehicle to any given angle throughout the vehicle’s ascent.
The thrust ring, the primary component of this thrust structure, is responsible for transferring the 3,200 lbf of thrust from the motor into the airframe of the vehicle. This ring transfers the load, defines the position of the motor inside the assembly, and allows for easy attachment and detachment of the motor.
In order to keep the rocket stable during flight, the flight dynamics team designed four fins that shift the center of pressure to a safe location and can withstand fin flutter forces. A high precision fin can design allows for a lightweight way to achieve a ±0.05° of fin cant.
| 3,200 lbf | 25,078 ft |
|---|---|
| LAD's P-Class solid rocket motor's thrust | The vehicle's expected final apogee |
| 14 ft 4 in | 1058 mph |
| LAD stands an impressive 14 ft 4 in in length and a diameter of 12 in | LAD will reach 1.38 times the speed of sound at its fastest |
