Project Ra IV - 94KeyboardsSmashed/Madwest_Webproject GitHub Wiki

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Project Ra IV was the 2018 Student Launch project done by team Burgus. It was designed to take simultaneous pictures of the sun both from ground level and from apogee. These pictures would then be compared, and any differences noted. The name Ra IV is because this is the fourth sun-based project in SL history. The paint scheme was Egyptian, with a blue eye of Horus on a gold background.

The payload was not functional due to a booting error on the main computer prior to launch. The rocket ended p flying to an altitude of 4825 ft AGL with the nonfunctional payload in the nosecone. During the flight, the main parachute also failed to deploy for an unknown reason, resulting in a crash landing that tore off the nosecone.

The payload was inspired by the total solar eclipse that occurred in the continental United States on August 21, 2017. The rational was that the Planetary Boundary Layer, or PBL prevents taking good images of the sun from the ground. If a rocket is used to get to the upper reaches of the PBL, then the pictures returned will be much clearer.

(Insert payload drawing) The technical design of the payload had two subsystems: the imaging system and the aiming system. The imaging subsystem was responsible for taking pictures of the sun at the correct times. The aiming subsystem was responsible for keeping the camera pointed at the sun. It did this through the use of two mirrors and two small motors. The first mirror was mounted in the top of the nosecone and was fixed at a slight angle to aim the camera at a second mirror. The second mirror rotated on a servo motor and provided elevation control. The whole nosecone assembly then rotated using a stepper motor to provide azimuth control.

(Insert rocket drawing) The rocket was 65 in long, had a diameter of 4.0 in, and weighed 16.5 lbs. It had a stability margin of 4.4 calibers, and a thrust to weight ratio of 21.9. It flew on an AT K1103X motor. The main body was composed of fiberglass, the nosecone was 3D printed to accommodate the customizations, and the fins were 1/8 in carbon fiber.

(Insert team photo) The team was composed mostly of Veteran SL members, with Ray Wendt acting as team leader. Also on the team were Riley Penegor, Grant Tucker, Jerrett Smith, Sean Chang, Reggie Cai, Joshua Beamesley, Michael Mello, Lucas Stanley, Zander Rossman, Ian Shi, and Edwin Upham.