Payload

The payload is located in the nose cone section of the launch vehicle, which is constructed with G10 fiberglass. An overview of the nose cone and payload section can be viewed in the figure and 3-D view shown below.

An upper section of the nose cone will be removable to account for the autonomous insertion of the payload. The removable tip of the nose cone will be held in place by magnetically released spring-loaded notches. The notches are initially locked, but when a magnet is in the vicinity surrounding the nose cone, these notches retract and allow the nose cone tip to be removed, allowing for insertion of the payload. An image of these notches in the initial state and the retracted state is shown in the figure below. Payload is then inserted into the nose cone and held in place by foam insert in the nose cone. The nose cone is connected to the rest of the body by a coupler that will be inserted into the avionics section.

The nosecone will be commercially bought and the magnetic notches and centerpiece will the custom-made by the team. The nosecone will be made out of fiberglass. The notches will be machined out of steel (or another magnetic metal alloy), and the centerpiece will be constructed of aluminum. These notches will be attached to spring so that they are pushed back in to the centerpiece to stop the nose cone from moving once the payload has been inserted. The success of the payload section will be determined by ground testing of ejection and AGSE payload insertion processes.