Badger Ballistics: 2015 WSGC Collegiate Rocket Competition

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the design features, construction and analysis of a high-powered rocket and payload.  The rocket was designed and constructed to be a boosted dart that could be recovered in a flyable condition in accordance with the WSGC Collegiate Rocket Competition objectives.  The boosted dart was comprised of an unpowered dart and a rocket booster.  The two stages of the rocket were designed to separate as a result of drag after the boosted dart stopped providing thrust.  After the drag separation, the unpowered dart was to continue coasting on a parabolic trajectory until an electronic deployment system released its parachute.  The rocket booster also contained a parachute recovery system that was to release after separation.  The payload of the unpowered dart was designed and constructed to collect on-board, nadir video and characterize the rotation of the rocket in the X, Y, and Z axes over time. Badger Ballistics achieved a successful flight with a successful launch, dart separation from booster, successful deployment of the booster recovery system, successful deployment of the dart recovery system, and the recovery of both stages in flyable condition.