Waterloo Rocketry
Overview
Since October 2021 I have been a member of the Waterloo Rocketry team, a student design team that launches sounding rockets at the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico. Waterloo Rocketry competes in the 30k SRAD Hybrid/Liquid category, the most technically challenging category available. In 2023, Waterloo Rocketry finished 2nd in this category, and was also the winner and runner up of many other awards. For more information on Waterloo Rocketry, you can click here.
My Role
I have participated in a wide variety of projects on Waterloo Rocketry. When I initially started, I was working on Omnibus, our central communication pipeline we use to receive data such as temperature, pressure, and altitude. Once I was done developing this software, I moved on to many other projects such as:
Machining of Vent Valve 2, a critical component for rocket fill and abort
Modifying a GPS mount for easier use and access
Writing and reviewing assembly procedures
Design and manufacturing of several flight-critical components
Manufacturing and post-processing of several carbon fiber and fiberglass composite components
Antenna tower raising procedures, improvements, and antenna range testing
and a huge variety of others. I am also one of the team members leading rocket integration, which involves coordinating various subsystems, solving mechanical and electrical interface challenges, and writing assembly and testing procedures. Developing a rocket requires incredible precision, tight tolerances, and high coordination, and it has been a pleasure to be able to facilitate that coordination between subsystems, as well as contribute to the subsystems myself. Below is a small gallery of projects I have worked on
Leviathan of the Sky upon takeoff, 2023
Credit: Waterloo Rocketry
A GPS mount I redesigned when we realized the original setup was unusable
Picture my own
Omnibus, our central data visualization system
Credit: Kavin Satheeskumar
Full assembly of the engine during May 2022 Static Fire 6
Picture my own
LotS fully assembled, hours before launch
Credit: Thomas Fairhead
One part of a valve I fabricated with a teammate
Credit: Matthew Gordon
A battery mount made of sheet aluminum
Picture my own
Antenna Towers
One project I was solely responsible for was the antenna towers to be used at competition. This involved raising and anchoring them, 3d-printing small rings to route an ethernet cable, and developing a raising procedure to guarantee that nothing would be forgotten. On the day of raising, I was scheduled to be elsewhere, so then also was responsible for training operators on how the antenna towers were to be raised, risks to themselves or the hardware, and how to check if they were raised properly. They worked flawlessly at competition and allowed us to launch the rocket first day, first try.
Image: One of two antenna towers, fully raised
Credit: Delaney Dyment