University of Toronto High Altitude Group

The University of Toronto's High Altitude Group was founded in early 2005 by UTIAS Masters' students Tarun S. Tuli and Karan Sarda. The purpose of the group is to involve students in a project to challenge current mid powered model rocket altitude records. To achieve this goal, a method known as a Rockoon is being used in which a launch platform with the rocket attached is lofted by a weather balloon to an altitude of 50,000 - 80,000 feet. Once there, the balloon is released and the rocket is launched under its own power through the use of commercially available solid rocket motors.

The group will undertake the design and construction of all major components for the rockets themselves (including the needed payloads and wireless communications systems). At present, several launches are planned in 2006 in order to test the various payload components that are necessary for high altitude flights. Simultaneously, development of the high altitude launch platforms is being performed by the group. The high altitude balloon assisted attempts are expected to occur at the earliest in Q2 2008.

Launch Timeline

* August 8, 2005 - Low Altitude Dry Test
** Mark Ia Vehicle
** F40 Aerotech Motor
*** Successful Launch and Recovery
* August 8, 2005 - Low Altitude Partial Payload Test
** Mark Ia Vehicle
** G75 Aerotech Motor
** ATV Video Downlink and Colour CMOS Imager
*** Partial Failure Due to Payload Retention System
*** Partial Failure Due to Loss of Bus Power
* July 22, 2006 - Low Altitude Rev. A Payload Test
** Mark Ib Vehicle
** Single Grain Cesaroni PRO38 Motor
** ATV Video Downlink and Colour CMOS Imager
** GPS Ground Tracking System
** Onboard CPU and Data Storage
** Barometric Pressure Sensing Payload
** 1200 bit/s Radio Telemetry Downlink
* Fall 2006 - Low Altitude Rev B. Payload Test
** Mark Ic Vehicle
** ATV Video Downlink an Colour CMOS Imager
** GPS Ground Tracking System
** Pyro Driven Recovery
** Higher Performance CPU
** Full 6 DOF IMU
*** Dual-Twin Axis +/- 300 deg/sec Solid State Gyro's (one redundant axis)
*** Triple Axis +/- 6G Accelerometer
*** High +/- 40G Accelerometer
*** Real Time Attitude and Position Determination algorithms onboard

External links

* [http://www.jidoshaphoto.com/uofthag/ U of T High Altitude Group]
* [http://www.rzsconsulting.net/rocket/U%20of%20T%20Hag/U%20of%20T%20Hag.html Published Designs]