Introduction

Design a Cansat that consists of a payload and a container that mounts on top of the rocket. The payload rests inside the container at launch and includes the nose cone as part of the payload.

The container with the payload shall deploy from the rocket when the rocket reaches peak altitude and the rocket motor ejection forces a separation. The container with the payload shall descend at a rate of no more than 15 meters/second using a parachute that automatically deploys at separation.

At 80% peak altitude, the payload shall separate from the container and descend using a para-glider descent control system until landing. The descent rate shall be an average of 5 meters/second. The payload shall steer toward a specified position to deposit an instrument. At 2 meters above the ground, the instrument shall be released and land intact.

A video camera shall show the separation of the payload from the container and the para-glider descent control system functioning. A second video camera shall be pointing downwards and show the ground during descent and the instrument being released. The instrument will be simulated using a large hens egg with a mass ranging from 54 grams to 64 grams.

The Cansat shall collect sensor data during ascent and descent and transmit the data to a ground station at a 1 Hz rate. The sensor data shall include interior temperature, battery voltage, battery current, altitude, tilt angle, rotation rate, and GPS position.