Design, construct, test, and fly an ultralight (<1kg) atmospheric entry and descent

microprobe carrying instrumentation to measure acceleration and atmospheric structure from 100

km to the surface.

1. Body Design

2. Nose Cone

3. Assembly

MECHANICAL COMPONENTS

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

1. Microprocessor/PCB

2. Sensors

3. Transmitter

4. Power Supply

End Caps secured with 4 screws each Nose Cone secured with 4 screws to end cap Antenna attached to BNC connector Internal foam secures electrical components

Protection against vibration damage

Float Test Most Likely Failure Modes

1. Insufficient Buoyancy2. Eye-hook Fracture3. Pressure Seal

Leakage

Rabbit RCM4300 Programmed with C code Data stored on Flash Card

Custom-made Printed Circuit Board created with EAGLE software

Accelerometer Up to 10 G’s

Pressure Transducer (x2) Up to 15 psi

Thermocouple Connect

with Cold Junction compensator

2 Li-SOCl2 Batteries 3.3 Volts Each

Operational Life: ~11 hours

Telonics MK8 Controlled Pulse Frequency: 163

MHz

Transmitter Test Most Likely Failure Modes

1. Solder Point Weakness2. Magnetic Switch 3. Batteries Run Out of

Power