About the team
Ontario Tech Space & Rocketry is a student design team based in Oshawa, with enthusiastic university students who aim to develop a 13ft high-powered research rocket reaching an altitude of 20,000 ft for the Launch Canada Competition this August!
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Launch Canada Competition
We were one of the 27 teams that launched solid, liquid, and hybrid rockets last year, conducting research on radiation detection.
OUR DIVISIONS
Aerostructures
Aerostructures focuses on the development and production of lightweight airframe components, including fins, body tubes, and nosecones, as well as internal spacing. A 13-foot flight-stable body made of filament-wound fiberglass is the goal of the department, and the group will oversee designing and fabricating the airframe, nose cone, payload, electronics, and motor bays. The challenges include the computation and analysis of airframe stress distribution, fin stress, and payload.
Propulsion
A rocket is meant to fly, and without our propulsion department, this wouldn't be possible. Propulsion focuses on ensuring that the rocket can achieve its altitude objective of 20,000 feet this year by utilizing commercial rocket motors. The motors emit mass downwards, thereby propelling the rockets upwards. Most rockets use solid fuel motors, but it is also possible to use liquid fuel or a hybrid composition. Our rocketry department works hard to get our team members certified with high-power rocketry organizations. Higher-level certifications permit the use of larger, more powerful motors, which emphasize the "high power" in high-power rocketry.
Avionics
The brains of the rocket's engines. A rocket employs an avionic system that is housed in a single electronics bay, or e-bay. This includes a flight computer, ranging from a simple microcontroller to a sophisticated computer board. Aircraft electronics and control systems that handle all the sensors aboard the rocket are the focus of the aviation electronics department. The flight computer acquires measurements from sensors and determines when to initiate events such as parachute deployment and engine staging. Some sensors include an IMU, an altimeter, a GPS, an RF tracker, etc.
Payload
A rocket is intended to deliver a payload, and the payload department will be devoted to conducting research in the earth's atmosphere. A payload is a term used to describe the portion of a rocket that is responsible for achieving the mission’s primary objectives. The payloads can be scientific instruments, communication equipment, or any other special equipment needed. This year, our focus will be nuclear-focused, and we will be researching radiation shielding. Some of the challenges we encounter include noise filtering, bay size limitations, deployment mechanisms, and altitudinal factors.
Recovery
High-powered rocketry aims to recover a rocket safely after it has been launched. Our recovery department focuses on including devices that return the rocket safely to the ground. Recovery systems operate by utilizing drag force to overcome the force of gravity, resulting in the gradual descent of the rocket. The team also prioritizes enhancing safety measures to ensure that the rocket can be reused in the event of damage upon landing.
Outreach
Outreach might just be the department for you if you are inspired and looking to include more STEM in the community near us. Similar to the Engineering Outreach Program, our outreach department places emphasis on promoting diversity and inclusivity within Oshawa and the Ontario Tech community. The team is currently working on developing rocket science-based content that is interactive for a wider audience.