SUBTEAMS 2023/2024
About
Project Sunride is split into seven subteams: Analysis, Avionics, Experimental Series, Karman Series, Marketing, Sunfire Engine, Sunfire Feed System, and Recovery. Each of these subteams work together to design, test, and assemble all projects within Sunride. Our team members have the opportunity to assess where their interests lie within their passion for rocketry and the option to switch subteam to develop their skill set.
Analysis
The Analysis team supports the Karman Series, Experimental Series and Sunfire teams with engineering analysis. This team is led by Ethan Edmunds, who has been a part of the team since April 2023.
Analysis engineers act as ‘consultants’ to other teams, working in areas related but not limited to:
– Aerodynamic fin design and optimisation;
– Structural analysis;
– Structural vibration analysis;
– Combustion analysis;
– Heat and mass transfer.
Avionics
The Avionics team is responsible for the research, development & operation of avionics systems for multiple Sunride rockets. This team is led by Brandon Sharkey and Sam Scott.
Avionics are electronic control systems that are responsible for critical operations during a rocket’s flight, including motor ignition, stage separation and GPS tracking. The Avionics team has been working on MRAS, Armadillo, Llama.
MRAS is an altimeter and deployment system that is smaller and better than the current outdated commercial systems for amateur rocketry with a easy to understand user interface.
Armadillo is a remote arming board to replace the currently used screw switches that arm the deployment charges. It is safer to use than a screw switch and can be connected to and armed over WiFi.
LLAMA is a multi-functional control, actuation and data acquisition device for enabling the testing, firing, and launching of liquid-fuel rocket engines.
Experimental Series
The Experimental Series team carry out smaller-scale testing of the various subsystems on our larger rockets. This team is led by Emma Bladen and Jessica Jayakumar.
All Experimental Series rockets are launched at Midlands Rocketry Club, so members of this team attend multiple rocket launches throughout the year.
Karman Series
The Karman Series team is designing and building the successor to Karman Alpha, Karman Bravo. This team is led by Ash Shaw, who has worked on the Avionics team, the Experimental Series team, and was the Karman Alpha design lead last year.
Directly building upon the lessons learnt from Karman Alpha, Bravo is set to reach an altitude of 115,000 feet at a speed of MACH 3. It is a two-stage rocket built for reliability, reusability, and speed which is set for launch on the 15th June 2024 at FAR in California.
Marketing
The Marketing team handles all of Sunride’s social media and sources exposure. This team is led by Stephen Lin.
The marketing team built this current active website and completed the documentary, ‘Karman Alpha: Twelve Feet Under’, which was released May 2024. Throughout the year they also released over 30+ varieties of rocket posters for our members.
Recovery
The Recovery team ensures the safe retrieval of all Sunride rockets, working on parachute design, deployment systems, and tracking systems. This team is led by Edward George.
We work on a variety of recovery systems for future rockets. The team’s range of expertise spans across electronics, systems control, CAD design, and even machine sewing!
This year, the Recovery team is developing a steerable parachute system that allows a rocket to guide itself back to a GPS location. This will be implemented in the rocket, Boomerang, which will be launched in the Mach-24 competition.