Electronics and Sensor Subsystem Design for Daedalus 2 on REXUS 29: An Autorotation Probe for Sub-Orbital Re-Entry

Abstract

The Daedalus 2 mission aboard REXUS 29 is a technology demonstrator for an alternative descent mechanism for very high altitude drops based on auto-rotation. It consists of two probes that are ejected from a sounding rocket at an altitude of about 80 km and decelerate to a soft landing using only a passive rotor with pitch control. This type of autonomous, scientific experiment poses great challenges upon the electronics subsystem, which include mechanical stress, power system reliability, sensor redundancy, subsystem communication, and development procedures.Based on the data gathered in Daedalus 1 [1] multiple new approaches were developed to fulfill these requirements, such as redundant communication links, mechanical decoupling of PCBs and fault-tolerant power source selection.