Nesaru mission updates
(March 30, 2014 – Cuyahoga Falls)
Since I last posted to my blog, Nesaru has flown two missions… PLS-5007 (formerly NLS-007), and PLS-5008. Both were to test the RF telemetry link. Here is a quick recap:
PLS-5007 : (3/8/2014) The first test of the telemetry link. Test proves the concept indeed works. Need improvements on antenna link. PLS_5008 set to test antenna polarity alignment during flight phase.
Telemetry Data from the ground station during mission PLS-5007
During PLS-5007, we were able to receive data until about 450 feet, when the rocket was outside the antenna aperture. Data was re-acquired when the rocket was on parachute downrange of the launch site. This proves the concept works.
PLS_5008: ( 3/22/2014) The flight itself was successful, but back at the ground station, we had a bad cable. So, as a result, no telemetry data was acquired. Test is being reset for mission PLS-5009.
Also, during mission PLS-5008, Nesaru was carying a second video camera on-board to catch the launch & recovery phases from a different perspective. The results were fun to watch.
Video link is posted below…
If you don’t see the video right away, give it a few minutes….