DARE SRP Rocket Project
Project Overview
The Small Rocket Project (SRP) is an educational initiative by DARE (Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering) that introduces students to rocket engineering fundamentals. The challenge: launch an uncooked egg to 1 kilometer altitude and recover it safely.
Key Project Goals
- Reach 1 kilometer altitude
- Safely recover an uncooked egg
- Complete recovery within 90 seconds
- Land within designated zone
Technical Implementation
Rocket Structure
- 60mm phenolic tube body structure (1m long)
- Sheet metal fins for stability
- Custom-designed and sewn parachute
- Nose cone with specialized egg protection system
- Kevlar shock cord for parachute attachment
- Black powder pyrotechnic charge for nose cone separation at apogee
Electronics System
The rocket uses the Kolibri flight computer, featuring:
- RP2040 dual-core ARM-based controller
- 68 MHz band telemetry system
- Barometer (BMP388) and IMU (LSM6DS) for flight data
- Optional GPS capability
- Onboard flash storage
- Pyro channel continuity checking
- Integrated power management
Launch Detection
Multiple launch detection methods were considered:
- Breakwire system (chosen for reliability)
- Barometer readings
- IMU acceleration data
- GPS position tracking
Flight Recording
Two ESP32 modules handle flight recording:
- Breakwire-triggered recording start
- Battery-efficient design
- Redundant recording systems
Egg Protection System
A critical aspect of the project is protecting the uncooked egg during flight and landing. Our solution includes:
- Nose cone mounting location
- "Popped Spelt" cushioning system
- Successful drop tests from 5th floor height
- Energy dissipation through cushioning material fragmentation
Design Process
The entire rocket was designed collaboratively using Onshape, a cloud-based CAD platform. This choice enabled:
- Free access for all team members
- Real-time collaboration
- Version control and design history
- Easy sharing and review of designs