FRoDO-M
As the third and final rocket in the FRoDO family, FRoDO-M combines all technical expertise and experience of the previous developments and launches.
Propelled by an M-Class Solid Propellant rocket motor, the rocket has a target apogee of 3000 m and has been launched at the 2024 edition of the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC) in October 2024. This is the largest European student rocketry launch event, taking place in Portugal.
The team was able to secure third place in the overall ranking out of 26 competing teams!
FRoDO-M contains major advancements and features. The use of a reliable commercial propulsion system with predictable thrust allowed the team to specifically focus on the development of new and innovative solutions in the area of avionics and communication, apogee control and recovery systems.
Active Altitude Control System
To face the special challenge of EuRoC – reaching the target apogee as precise as possible, the team decided to take a novel approach. A high pressure cold gas thruster system with a total of 6 nozzles allows for an apogee control in both upwards and downwards direction. 1.1 L of 300-bar air pressure can generate a thrust of up to 15 N and an influence on the apogee altitude of up to 50 m. The active altitude control system was successfully used at the launch event and influenced the final apogee altitude to 2993.7 m, resulting in one of the most precise apogee heights to 3000 m in the history of EuRoC.
This system also allowed the team to gain valuable experience in high pressure systems that is necessary for future engine development, without it being mission critical.
Payload
The rocket contains a payload bay that can host up to six CanSat unit payloads, which are provided by partner groups and organizations.
At the EuRoC 2024 launch, the rocket carried four CanSats from different teams, specifically the AirEsiea team from Paris, the EPFL spacecraft team from Switzerland, a team from the local Kaiserin Friedrich Gymnasium and a TUDSaT internal team, building a 2 unit CanSat for live video streaming.
Smart Fins
The stabilizing fins at the end of the FRoDO-M rocket do not only serve aerodynamic purpose, but are containing several additional features. Printed circuit boards are used as the core of the fin, that allow the integration of strain gauges inside the fin. With this, mechanical deflections and vibrations can be measured to analyze the aerodynamic stresses on the fins during the flight.
Additionally, LEDs are mounted inside the fins to clearly display the current arming state of the rocket during launch operations.
Do you want to know more about the project and the rocket?
Feel free to contact rocket@tudsat.space, we would be happy to provide more information!
