Rocket Flight Data Logger
Overview
Designed and built a custom data logging system for model rockets using ESP32 microcontrollers and sensors to capture flight telemetry data for performance analysis and trajectory modeling.
The Challenge
Need for accurate real-time data collection during model rocket flights for performance analysis.
Tools & Technologies
Methodology
- 1Defined core telemetry requirements: altitude, acceleration (3-axis), rotation (3-axis), and timestamp synchronization.
- 2Designed high-level architecture: Sensors → ESP32 Microcontroller → TX ->Wireless Link -> RX -> MQTT Message Broker → Data processing -> Data storage & visualization.
- 3Evaluated trade-offs between WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa and RF modules — selected LoRa and WiFi with MQTT for low latency and simplicity within range constraints.
- 4Designed, built and tested electronic circuit board and enbedded firmware for the flight computer.
- 5Built an ingestion data pipeline using Telegraf to collect, transform, process and store real time telemetry data.
- 6Built a real time visualization dashboard using Javascript to plot altitude profiles, acceleration curves, and rotation patterns.
- 7Conducted multiple test flights and iterative optimization to validate the system performance under real flight conditions.
- 8Conducted 3+ rocket launches with successful telemetry logging and data analysis.
System Architecture
Design Highlights
- 1Optimized ESP32 task scheduling with FreeRTOS to ensure precise sensor sampling without blocking data transmission.
- 2Implemented MQTT protocol to stream data wirelessly to the ground station with minimal latency.
- 3Implemented a Kalman Filter algorithm to reduce noise and improve altitude estimation accuracy.
- 4Leveraged WebSockets for real-time visualization enabling near realtime dashboard updates during rocket flights.
- 5Implemented a state machine to manage key flight phases (idle, launch, ascent, apogee, descent, parachute deployment, and landing)
Project Gallery
Avionics Bay Configuration showing ESP32, sensors, and battery within the 3D-printed enclosure.
Flight computer design showing ESP32, GPS, barometric altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, and gyroscope.
Preview of the real-time visualization dashboard tracking flight dynamics.
Footage of the model rocket launching with telemetry tracking.
Showcased directly to the Cabinet Secretary of Defence and the executive management of the Kenya Space Agency at the 2022 Kenya Space Expo.
Key Results
- Successfully captured telemetry from 3+ rocket flights with over 90% data integrity.
- Achieved high-frequency data logging at 1 datapoint every 25ms, enabling fine-grained flight analysis.
- Generated actionable insights on rocket trajectory, acceleration, velocity, altitude, and apogee.
- Identified and quantified undesired rocket rotation, informing design improvements for stability.
- Provided real-time flight data that supported informed in-flight and post-flight decision making.
Awards & Recognition
- ★Featured at the 2022 Kenya Space Expo.
- ★Showcased directly to the Cabinet Secretary of Defence and the executive management of the Kenya Space Agency.