Luca 🇵🇸🇺🇦
@quaternionrotation.bsky.social
doohickey extraordinaire
Amateur Rocketeer 🚀
Space/Aviation photographer 📸
Amateur Rocketeer 🚀
Space/Aviation photographer 📸
And that's a wrap! Thanks for reading this thread, and stay tuned for more build updates (and hopefully a launch!)
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
And that's a wrap! Thanks for reading this thread, and stay tuned for more build updates (and hopefully a launch!)
The brains of the pad (and the rocket) is my Athena flight computer.
It's conformal coated so *should* fair well against the environment, but I'm working on an enclosure anyway.
Athena can receive commands via Bluetooth to trigger launches/aborts.
It's conformal coated so *should* fair well against the environment, but I'm working on an enclosure anyway.
Athena can receive commands via Bluetooth to trigger launches/aborts.
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The brains of the pad (and the rocket) is my Athena flight computer.
It's conformal coated so *should* fair well against the environment, but I'm working on an enclosure anyway.
Athena can receive commands via Bluetooth to trigger launches/aborts.
It's conformal coated so *should* fair well against the environment, but I'm working on an enclosure anyway.
Athena can receive commands via Bluetooth to trigger launches/aborts.
Water and power is supplied to the pad by this electrical box I stole from an old school project.
Yes it looks ugly, but it conveniently had the correct number/sizes of holes 🤷
Yes it looks ugly, but it conveniently had the correct number/sizes of holes 🤷
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Water and power is supplied to the pad by this electrical box I stole from an old school project.
Yes it looks ugly, but it conveniently had the correct number/sizes of holes 🤷
Yes it looks ugly, but it conveniently had the correct number/sizes of holes 🤷
The water deluge system features 10 nozzles angled downwards to spray water onto the blast plate (not present).
The system is enabled at T-4 and runs for 5 seconds, consuming about half a bottle of water. I'm hoping it will produce a nice amount of steam at liftoff.
The system is enabled at T-4 and runs for 5 seconds, consuming about half a bottle of water. I'm hoping it will produce a nice amount of steam at liftoff.
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The water deluge system features 10 nozzles angled downwards to spray water onto the blast plate (not present).
The system is enabled at T-4 and runs for 5 seconds, consuming about half a bottle of water. I'm hoping it will produce a nice amount of steam at liftoff.
The system is enabled at T-4 and runs for 5 seconds, consuming about half a bottle of water. I'm hoping it will produce a nice amount of steam at liftoff.
The clamp is initially held in place by a supporting bar, which is knocked out of the way by a servo motor and pulled into the retracted position by a rubber band.
Pretty much as simple and reliable as can be.
Pretty much as simple and reliable as can be.
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The clamp is initially held in place by a supporting bar, which is knocked out of the way by a servo motor and pulled into the retracted position by a rubber band.
Pretty much as simple and reliable as can be.
Pretty much as simple and reliable as can be.
The hold down clamps themselves are inspired by several other people's designs --
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The hold down clamps themselves are inspired by several other people's designs --
The pad itself consists of two parts: a hexagonal base and a hold down system. This allows the base to be compatible with multiple rocket diameters and clamp designs.
The base features interior channels for servo cables to be routed through.
The base features interior channels for servo cables to be routed through.
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The pad itself consists of two parts: a hexagonal base and a hold down system. This allows the base to be compatible with multiple rocket diameters and clamp designs.
The base features interior channels for servo cables to be routed through.
The base features interior channels for servo cables to be routed through.
-- I don't currently have access to a workshop, and I want to finish the build phase of this project before uni. The exhaust is still directed at a metal plate and water should help reduce hot sparks.
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
-- I don't currently have access to a workshop, and I want to finish the build phase of this project before uni. The exhaust is still directed at a metal plate and water should help reduce hot sparks.
A quick rundown of my TVC Launch Pad, which I designed and built in just 4 days 🧵
September 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
A quick rundown of my TVC Launch Pad, which I designed and built in just 4 days 🧵
STUFF UPDATE:
- L1 Attempt hopefully in the next 2 weeks.
- Flight computer dev is DONE
- My spare parts TVC project is coming along well. Might even squeeze a first flight in before uni 🤞Chutes, pad and simulation is all that remains.
- L1 Attempt hopefully in the next 2 weeks.
- Flight computer dev is DONE
- My spare parts TVC project is coming along well. Might even squeeze a first flight in before uni 🤞Chutes, pad and simulation is all that remains.
August 31, 2025 at 4:49 PM
STUFF UPDATE:
- L1 Attempt hopefully in the next 2 weeks.
- Flight computer dev is DONE
- My spare parts TVC project is coming along well. Might even squeeze a first flight in before uni 🤞Chutes, pad and simulation is all that remains.
- L1 Attempt hopefully in the next 2 weeks.
- Flight computer dev is DONE
- My spare parts TVC project is coming along well. Might even squeeze a first flight in before uni 🤞Chutes, pad and simulation is all that remains.
Some key features:
- Onboard GPS chip
- Bluetooth Radio
- USB-C
- Dedicated telemetry radio ports
- 4 Pyro channels
- Servo voltage regulation
- Flash memory for in-flight datalogging, and an SD slot for offloading that data
- High-precision IMU and Barometer
- Onboard GPS chip
- Bluetooth Radio
- USB-C
- Dedicated telemetry radio ports
- 4 Pyro channels
- Servo voltage regulation
- Flash memory for in-flight datalogging, and an SD slot for offloading that data
- High-precision IMU and Barometer
July 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Some key features:
- Onboard GPS chip
- Bluetooth Radio
- USB-C
- Dedicated telemetry radio ports
- 4 Pyro channels
- Servo voltage regulation
- Flash memory for in-flight datalogging, and an SD slot for offloading that data
- High-precision IMU and Barometer
- Onboard GPS chip
- Bluetooth Radio
- USB-C
- Dedicated telemetry radio ports
- 4 Pyro channels
- Servo voltage regulation
- Flash memory for in-flight datalogging, and an SD slot for offloading that data
- High-precision IMU and Barometer
I've spent the last week working on my most advanced flight computer yet to power both TVC and HPR flights.
I've switched to an STM32 microcontroller and moved all components directly onto the board. This improves flexibility and compactness.
1/2
I've switched to an STM32 microcontroller and moved all components directly onto the board. This improves flexibility and compactness.
1/2
July 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I've spent the last week working on my most advanced flight computer yet to power both TVC and HPR flights.
I've switched to an STM32 microcontroller and moved all components directly onto the board. This improves flexibility and compactness.
1/2
I've switched to an STM32 microcontroller and moved all components directly onto the board. This improves flexibility and compactness.
1/2
*decimates NASA in favour of private industry then proceeds to decimate said private industry*
masterful gambit sir
masterful gambit sir
July 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
*decimates NASA in favour of private industry then proceeds to decimate said private industry*
masterful gambit sir
masterful gambit sir
per. my. last. email.
June 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
per. my. last. email.
got some nice shots of filleting
June 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
got some nice shots of filleting
Progress! Next up: Gluing the fins.
Will showcase the avionics stack once I've tidied it a bit.
Will showcase the avionics stack once I've tidied it a bit.
June 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Progress! Next up: Gluing the fins.
Will showcase the avionics stack once I've tidied it a bit.
Will showcase the avionics stack once I've tidied it a bit.
Red Arrows arriving in Liverpool on Saturday, ahead of Cosford Airshow
June 11, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Red Arrows arriving in Liverpool on Saturday, ahead of Cosford Airshow
what does he look like that
May 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
what does he look like that
they were eating one of their own alive the other day for merely talking to someone who's said slightly negative things about Elon
May 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
they were eating one of their own alive the other day for merely talking to someone who's said slightly negative things about Elon
Plenty of project stuff coming after exams!
May 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Plenty of project stuff coming after exams!
its always "think of the employeeeees!!" until the employees come out and say something slightly negative about spacex
May 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
its always "think of the employeeeees!!" until the employees come out and say something slightly negative about spacex