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The mission includes development of standardized payload subsystems and manuals that facilitate increasingly complex future payloads and the maximum transfer of corporate knowledge to future student participants. Additionally, the mission will provide opportunities for students to design, implement, and test innovative systems through hands-on experience and collaboration between disciplines, universities and practicing aerospace engineers and scientists.

Project DIONISYS: Mechanical Components

Nosecone Payload tube Payload frame Umbilical block Drag plate Radax joint Parachute recovery sys. Separation system

Drag Plate

 

The Drag plate is an aluminum disk, which covers the back end of the rocket during reentry, and pulls the drogue chute out of its bag. The drag plate will be attached to the back end by two nylon (or similar low strength) screws. These screws will be broken by two explosive actuators that push against the plate. This will separate the plate from the payload and air drag will do the rest.

A picture of the aluminum disk called a drag plate

Here is the drag plate when it has been attached to the payload tube