Launch Vehicle 3.1 Airframe

Launch Vehicle 3.1 is Portland State Aerospace Society’s current iteration of a long history of student-built rockets. Until recently, LV3.1 has been out of commission due to missing a critical system, the Electromechanical Recovery System (ERS), compared to the previous pyrotechnic system. The ERS’ job is to deploy the trio of parachutes that allow the rocket to land safely while controlling the descent. Many systems were designed until a general consensus was met on our final design. That design was further developed using the computer-aided design software, OnShape. A prototype was printed using a combination of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). A method of reading the state of the system, locked or unlocked, needed to be developed, as well as a way of passing power through each ERS. This new system allowed us to test the deployment safely and efficiently. The design process grew into a collaborative effort between a variety of disciplines. Printed circuit boards were designed and sent out to be manufactured. Upon receiving them, testing began to see how accurate our design was. The mechanical side was also tested to see how successful and reliable the deployment of this mechanism was. The deployments were successful in the trials. Due to the success of our tests, we were confident in having parts machined in preparation for a launch-ready ERS.