Competition Guide

Mars Pathfinder Lander

Design a rocket and payload to be deployed at peak altitude of at least 1000 feet. The payload shall contain a rover. The payload must also double as the rocket nose cone. After the payload is deployed, it shall descend with a descent rate of no more than 25 feet/sec. At 300 feet, the payload shall reduce the descent rate to less than 10 feet/sec. Once landed, the payload shall wait for judges and the team to arrive at the landing site. A rover shall be released by remote command when the judges are ready to witness the event. When commanded, the payload shall perform any needed operations and the rover shall leave the payload and move onto the ground. After the rover reaches the ground, the rover shall take a picture of the payload it left.

Deployable Sensor Payload Event

Design a payload and rocket to launch, using a commercial G rocket engine, to at least 1000 feet and no more than 1500 feet and have the payload deploy from the rocket at peak altitude. The payload shall descend using a passive helicopter recovery. The payload shall also be the rocket nose cone.
The ground station shall capture the data transmitted from the payload and display the sensor data in real time. The minimal requirement is the data to be displayed as text in real time. Extra points will be awarded if the data is plotted in real time.

Target Altitude Event

Design and build a rocket to reach 900 feet using a commercial F motor. The vehicle must carry a commercial altimeter. The ratio of rocket length to airframe diameter shall be no greater than 4 to 1.
The vehicle must safely recover and be in condition to be flown again. The team must perform two successful flights meeting all the requirements out of three attempts. Two attempts must meet the requirements or be disqualified. The team with the closest altitude to 900 feet wins.
The air frame of the rocket must be at least 50% 3D printed. The rocket must be test flown before any qualification attempts.

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