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The onboard telemetry system
is composed of the onboard processor that gathers data from onboard sensors
and packages that data into packets.
The data packets are forwarded onto a Terminal Node Controller
(TNC). The TNC acts as a modem
taking in the digital data stream and converting it into a Phased Shift Key
analog signal. This signal is then
sent to the transceiver that is used to take the analog signal and radiate
it to the antenna. The onboard power
distribution unit powers the radio and TNC.
The antenna is a horizontally
polarized dipole antenna.
The ground telemetry system
includes the antenna, transceiver, terminal node controller, and the
front-end processor. The front-end
processor is the computer that takes the downlinked telemetry stream and
performs needed processing so that the data can easily be used by other
applications. Typically front end
processors decommutate the data stream (break it into its components) and
calibrate the data (calibration entails converting the data into proper
engineering units). The data is then
made available (via a data server) to any number of additional applications
running anywhere on the network.
During the inaugural
full-scale flight the real-time video and telemetry will be made available
to the public from the ASA web site.
A satellite uplink at the launch site will allow this data and video
to be broadcast over the internet, allowing everyone to ride along with the
rocket. Associated with this
technology is the capability to send data from the onboard payloads to the
researcher real-time during flight.
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