Yes. This was essentially what armadillo aerospace and Masten Space Systems did back in the day.
Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
41–50 of 78 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#42This is a weird question. Model rockets aren't practical. Hobby's aren't practical. Hobby's are fun, and educational. A software controlled model rocket would be fun and educational and challenging. You should do it.
This is true, but...
One of my hobbies is baking bread. I've seen professional bakers bake 100% whole wheat loaves with an open crumb. It's semi-magic and not practical. They literally spend years failing at it, learning every variable, sourcing different artisanal flours and setting up a professional workspace.
I do try it sometimes, and I always fail. It's interesting, but...
Sometimes I actually want to eat some nice bread. There are times when I say, just do a 33% whole wheat loaf Erik, it's fine. It is practical and it's still fun and it's a nice day doing my hobby. There's still plenty of sport in it and plenty to learn.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#43BPS.space is attempting it. Test Launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQt-9SSJ51c Test Landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXy-x6lkQvQ
Ah wow I watched a bunch of his videos last summer but forgot to check up on his progress. Incredible! I wonder what scale you would need to get the rocket into space/orbit? SpaceX should fund this guy to find out, could prove to be a valuable bootcamp for real SpaceX employees in the future?
So far only one amateur team has done this: https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/10803/is-it-possib...
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#44Is there any open-source -physically realistic- rocket flight simulation software that one can build/test landing algorithms on?
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#45There is a competition for college students to create a rocket that can return a payload to a specific location:
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#46Years ago, I remember reading this guy's website where he was building a homemade cruise missile: https://www.theage.com.au/world/diy-cruise-missile-20030604-... I don't know whether he got shut down by the authorities or not.
I was actually curious how cruise missiles were defined in itar. The definition of missiles is really broad and actually includes lots of UAVs. > “Missiles”. (All) Rocket systems (including ballistic missiles, space launch vehicles, and sounding rockets) and unmanned aerial vehicle systems (including cruise missiles, target drones, and reconnaissance drones) “capable of” delivering at least 500 kilograms payload to a…
> The definition of missiles is really broad...delivering at least 500 kilograms payload to a range of at least 300 kilometers.
Not as broad as I would have thought. You could do a lot of damage with 499 kg of TNT, and nuclear bombs weigh less. Little Boy was 64 kg of uranium according to [0].
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#47BPS.space is attempting it. Test Launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQt-9SSJ51c Test Landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXy-x6lkQvQ
This is incredible, looks like an exact smaller clone of the real thing. More generally, it has to be possible since we went to the moon with much less.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#48Be really careful. Adding guidance to a hobby rocket may classify it as a missile, and you will need to start looking into ITAR.
Not an american, but I thought ITAR just restricted export (including of information though), hence the I(nternational) and T(rade)?
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
I was actually curious how cruise missiles were defined in itar. The definition of missiles is really broad and actually includes lots of UAVs. > “Missiles”. (All) Rocket systems (including ballistic missiles, space launch vehicles, and sounding rockets) and unmanned aerial vehicle systems (including cruise missiles, target drones, and reconnaissance drones) “capable of” delivering at least 500 kilograms payload to a…
> The definition of missiles is really broad...delivering at least 500 kilograms payload to a range of at least 300 kilometers. Not as broad as I would have thought. You could do a lot of damage with 499 kg of TNT, and nuclear bombs weigh less. Little Boy was 64 kg of uranium according to [0]. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy
"Honestly officer, this nuclear... fire assisted catapult... isn't a missile".
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The definition of missiles is really broad...delivering at least 500 kilograms payload to a range of at least 300 kilometers. Not as broad as I would have thought. You could do a lot of damage with 499 kg of TNT, and nuclear bombs weigh less. Little Boy was 64 kg of uranium according to [0]. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy
"Honestly officer, this nuclear... fire assisted catapult... isn't a missile".
"My lawyers advise me that I am technically correct, which, legally speaking, is the best kind of correct."