Weekly Update (Patreon)

Here's a quick update regarding progress last week, and work for this week. I'll aim to keep up with weekly updates here on a regular basis, and perhaps more often in the future. 

Last week, I decided I'll be putting together an "active stability" kit for model rocketeers to use with their own rockets. It's called the Vector Avionics system. This week, I'll be finishing and sending off the first PCB layout for the flight computer to be printed. I'll also be redesigning the thrust vectoring hardware from the ground up - right now it's quite tedious to build, and I aim to create a version that is foolproof, so to speak.

Regarding Relay, the vehicle is still ready to fly again. I'm going back and forth through a few options on how to proceed. Last week I gave a drop-test from a drone a shot, but the rocket never separated from the UAV due to a bug in the code. Finding a second simple error (the first being the gantry cable on F3) in such a short time is a clear sign of a flawed prep and check process. The standard operating procedure(SOP) I've written is out of date, so an update here is overdue.

The path forward is likely to keep all vehicles grounded for the time being and get the first print of the Vector computer sent out. Afterward, I can focus on rebuilding all flight code and either pursuing another drop test, or all-up launch. There's also a case for simply focusing on a first draft of the Vector system and using Relay as a test vehicle, though it would mean perhaps another month of no flight.

Feel free to comment here or @joebarnard on Twitter with thoughts or advice, and I'll keep you posted!