Description

Lunar Numbat is an Australian and New Zealand space technology project, which is using commodity open-source hardware and software to build components that can be utilized as part of larger missions, including the White Label Space Google Lunar X-Prize team.  Several of the Lunar Numbat build team are members of the Connected Community HackerSpace, based in Melbourne.

The Lunar Numbat strategy is to start small and incrementally build-up in a step-wise fashion.  Along the way, delivering tried and tested, re-usable hardware and software components, such as AIko.

Even a small Class C rocket provides some engineering challenges, such as packaging (minimal size and weight) and telemetry (communications).

Jon's minimal Class C payload consists of ...

• Arduino Pro Mini
• Lilypad 3-axis accelerometer
• 433 Mhz transmitter (PDF)
  
• Battery pack

(1) Class C rocket launch and (2) Arduino Mini with 3-axis accelerometer

Images Copyright (c) 2009 Marc Alexander and Jon Oxer

However, there were issues with the wireless communications, which will be resolved as part of the more sophisticated Class G rocket project.

A future exercise will be to retro-fit, back into the Class C rocket, some of the hardware and (more importantly) software components that are being developed for the Class G rocket launch.