Next Generation Data Acquisition System for a Sounding Rocket

Next Generation Data Acquisition System for a Sounding Rocket
Next Generation Data Acquisition System for a Sounding Rocket
Case studies
February 14, 2020

Next Generation Data Acquisition System for a Sounding Rocket

Sounding rockets can carry experiments to high altitudes (30 to 90 miles) that are often unsuitable for balloons and satellites. Because they do not require expensive boosters or extended telemetry and tracking coverage, sounding rockets are cost-effective platforms for suborbital experiments. In addition to being low cost, their mission payloads can be developed in a very short time frame, sometimes as quickly as 3 months, enabling scientists to react quickly to new phenomena and to incorporate the most up-to-date technology in their experiments.

Both commercial space companies and national space agencies, such as NASA and ESA, are seeking to cut costs and speed development by using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment to meet the needs of future space missions. This philosophy includes sounding rocket operators who are looking to offer a low price point in order to keep their sounding rocket services cost-competitive.

This case study outlines how an operator used a modular DAS to increase the flexibility of what data could be acquired during a mission. This was important to ensure that the new DAS could be reconfigured quickly to prevent it from delaying the scientific or experimental equipment’s data from being captured. The case study also shows how such a system could be implemented that met the harsh environmental conditions of a rocket mission without becoming too expensive.

Download the case study to learn more.

 

Read the Space Systems Brochure

The Curtiss-Wright Space COTS versatility has been fully proven – no other COTS system has been qualified and used successfully in such a wide variety of space missions for both Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) and Operational Flight Instrumentation (OFI) requirements.

Read the Brochure

Successful Integration of a Launcher Video Telemetry System Using COTS Equipment

Réaltra was awarded a contract to develop a launcher video telemetry system (LVTS) that will provide the onboard live video telemetry for a launcher that is anticipated to fly in 2021. Read the case study to learn about their challenges, solutions and results.

Addressing the Environmental and Operational Issues for DAUs Onboard Space Launch Vehicles

This white paper looks in more detail at the environmental and operational issues for space launch vehicles (although such applies for many other space mission types) and suggests solutions based on existing ruggedized COTS data acquisition systems (DAS).