Parachute Tests

Being friday afternoon we wanted to do something a bit more exciting. Unfortunately, a SpaceChair didn’t happen. However, we prepared a 2Kg little box and took some videos. In the first movie the box is dropped by a worker from a new building in our University. In the rest of them, we found an interesting place to do it ourselves, the emergency stairs of our building.

Here is also a picture of Santiago holding the parachute before the experiments:

— fpereda

More parachute pictures

We took a break from a very intensive work journey and deployed the parachute and took some more pictures. We want to do some initial tests with our little gondola and maybe a chair after lunch. We’ll see whether we find a good place to do it without damaging people or buildings.

(Click on the pictures for bigger versions of the photos)

— fpereda

Parachute pictures and tests

We don’t want the SpaceFish to crash if something goes wrong, nor do we want it to damage buildings or people if it goes berserk. To avoid that we thought of having a parachute (and as it turned out, it is one of the most important parts of our project these days. So here it is:

Parachute Hanging

It looks really nice I must say and it is quite big in comparison with SpaceFish itself:

Parachute with SpaceFish

This means, among other things, that we can start testing the parachute. These tests are going to be a whole load of fun. Really. What do people suggest? Someone suggested throwing a chair from the window… We should really record these tests and share them with you.

Until then, you have the pictures. Have a nice day.

— fpereda

Captain in the bridge!

We forgot to present you our autopilot system. He has been promoted to captain.

New toy in the lab

We just arrived from the factory and guess what came with us… Exactly! The first mock-up is sitting just a meter away from me. I took the oportunity to take some more pictures to share them with you.

Enjoy them:

SpaceFish Mock-Up Front

SpaceFish Mock-Up Left

SpaceFish Mock-Up Right

There’s still some work to be done on the mock-up. But it is looking quite nice, the people at Astilleros Venturi are doing an awesome job.

Among other things, we already have servos, an electric ducted fan and, since this morning, our own weather balloon and our (small) weather station.

All this should be more than enough for the first tests.

We’ll keep you posted.

— fpereda

Finishing the mock-up and preparing the little bexus.

Today was an exciting day. The mock-up is closer to be finished, people from Astilleros Venturi did a great job crafting all the pieces from the molds.

SpaceFish Team and Astilleros Venturi

SpaceFish

Now is time to pay attention to the details, placing the rudder, the motor, electronics… all have to be with precision to respect the center of gravity and stability of the SpaceFish.

Determining the best placement for the parachute

Also, we are making our own little gondola, with this angle to provide a ramp to drop the SpaceFish, from our meteorological balloon. Performing several tests the next month, all have to be ready before the real BEXUS campaign next October.

Gondola with ramp

Spacefish mock-up

We had a lot of work during the last two weeks.

We were finishing the first mock-up of the Spacefish and getting ready the telemetry system. We expect to flight the Spacefish during the next two weeks with the first prototype of the electronics.

Also the PDR report from the experts has been received during this week. The first impression was good, but loads of work are waiting for us.

The parachute deployment system has been started too! keep tuned to our website to view the first video about it.

Spacefish molds