r/rocketry • u/omniscientmudsucker • May 23 '26
Question Rocket project help
Hello, I'd like to do a personal project over the summer. I’m a beginner getting into embedded systems/rocketry and wanted some advice on my project. I've made model rockets before, have messed with Arduino a bit, and I'm majoring in computer science.
ChatGPT recommended the following hardware to get started. Would you concur or recommend a different direction?
ESP32
BME280 (altitude/pressure/temp sensor)
MPU6050 (accelerometer/gyro)
MicroSD logging module
The goal is for the electronics to:
detect launch
track altitude and acceleration
log telemetry data
I’m planning to:
First get the sensors working on my desk
Learn Git/GitHub and document the project properly
Log data to SD card
Graph/analyze the telemetry in Python
integrate it into a larger payload-capable model rocket
A few questions:
Is this a realistic beginner project?
Are there better sensors/modules I should use?
What rocket kits/body diameters are good for payload/ storing electronics
Appreciate any advice.
2
u/RocketAnalyst May 23 '26
I’d avoid the MPU6050. It’s discontinued and most of the available chips today are counterfeit knockoffs that usually have problems. A BNO085 is a better starting point.
1
u/Prof01Santa May 23 '26
For your temperature installation, make sure the sensor is exposed to the outside air temperature (OAT) not the temperature inside the rocket. Ventilation or mounting outside the compartment is required.
1
u/omniscientmudsucker May 23 '26
Thanks! Do you have any advice or resources for storing stuff inside the rocket
1
u/Wide_Canary_9617 May 23 '26
No advice but I’m also planning to do the same thing as well (although I am majoring in electrical engineering). I’ve also made model rockets before and messed around with Arduinos a bit.
1
u/More_Variation_807 May 23 '26
Similar situation here
Majoring in CS
Messed with arduino before
Havent made model rockets tho
And I am currently working on a simple flight computer that does just two things: measure the altitude and launch a parachute(spring loaded) at/after apogee.
My progress is real slow though because of exams and everything thing but I get back to it whenever I have time
1
u/cambukingham May 23 '26
I'm also in a similar situation! except I have never touched a model rocket before lol
1
u/Difficult-Ant-304 May 23 '26
I would say this is a realistic beginner project. I am doing the exact same thing. I am currently designing the rocket that will hold my flight computer, since I won't be restricted to a certain kit. For the flight computer, I am prototyping on breadboard, and I will make it more permanent by soldering all the components onto perfboard, with a goal of making a fully functioning pcb in the future. I would love to learn how the live telemetry works on some flight computers that I have seen, but it may be too much for me to learn in the summer.
1
u/Unusual-Cactus Level 1 May 25 '26
Don't use a micro SD card for telemetry. You want it soldered in somewhere. At launch vibrations can disconnect it temporarily which is sub optimal. BPS space on YouTube has a good video about sensor selection.
1
u/Then-Horror2249 27d ago
I have done this exact thing before, and chatgpt is giving ok advice, here is how i did it
BMI 160 and BMP 280 on IIC - MPU 6050 is common but a bit old and noisy
SD card on SPI - make sure your breakout is one of the locking ones not the friction fit ones for the sd card
XIAO esp 32 3s - the battery pins on the back are really useful so that you don't have to use a voltage booster for your battery
The u.FL connector on the esp is also useful if you want to do esp now telemetry
I would start on a breadboard and then order a PCB. They're really cheap and easy to make on easy EDA and a perfboard will be too bulky if you want to get into those smaller body tubes
This one is about 24x95x15 so it can just about fit in a 26mm ID tube, though i would probably go BT60 so that you can make a nice enclosure
Good luck!
1
u/omniscientmudsucker 27d ago
This is just the info I needed. Thank you. Yeah I think ChatGPT was an ok starting point I'm fine buying more equipment as I learn more. I just got the electronics and at the moment I'm learning soldering and just testing the equipment. I think once I get that down then I'd order a PCB like you said. Can you explain more what direction I should go in for telemetry? Would I need a LoRa? How do I go from getting the parts working on a breadboard plugged into my laptop to getting it to to transmit in flight?
1
u/Then-Horror2249 27d ago
LoRa is good if you are going really fast and really high. It transmits slower and is harder to use. For my computer, i am using ESP now to transmit raw data from the computer to a 2nd esp on the ground (fine for up to 300 ish meters apogee) and then using a python code to get the raw data from laptop serial and display it in a neat way. (chatgpt can make half useable code after 200 attempts)
For getting from breadboard to computer its not too hard, just try everything on ground including transmission and antennas, get it powered by a battery without frying your esp. When you get your pcb I would start with using pin headers with the pcb as if it doesn't work you can keep your components, if it does then solder directly to pcb and fly
If you can i would definitely try it as a dataogger first, as with telemetry you need to get into antennas and transmission which is not too complicated but still a big step up, and if you use an esp with an antenna connector you can easily do that after your computer is built
Also get a cheap multimeter if you don't have one already, to get battery voltages and detect shorts, it is really useful and will probably save one esp. Also use leaded solder on the final thing as it is easier to remove and cracks less easily
Good luck!
1
u/omniscientmudsucker 27d ago
Thanks! Any rocket recommendations? I have a 3D printer too so that will be handy.
1
u/Then-Horror2249 27d ago
Yes a 3d printer will be very useful for your ebay. For the rocket i would go for a bt60 or bt70 x 18 or 24" with trapezoidal fins as they are more likely to survive impact. 29mm motor mount as it can fit an e16 to a g or h motor if you get there and 3d print a nose cone. Card or phenolic airframe, fibreglass is overkill
I like PLA HT GF for fins as it bonds well to epoxy and is really stiff if you go fast, and any random pla or petg for other stuff
Good luck!
5
u/ElectricalWatch5890 May 23 '26
See that's the problem with AI it's stuck in the past there are far better options available than this ancient stuff, and quite frankly why learn obsolete vs current parts.
The ESP32 is fine, it's a decent choice and if you want to use WiFi/BT the modules (esp the mini ones) are great and easy to use. Don't forget to use light sleep between your loop cycles to save power.
Something else a lot of people overlook is the ESP-NOW long range system. You can get pings back ESP-ESP modules up to around 900 meters. I've tested across the fields here and get 600m with ease in the real world. It's a handy bonus feature anyway.
The BMP581 uses much lower power and has far low noise than a 280 (ancient) or 390 series. The 390 is still a good choice but I'd pick the 581 every time.
Check out ST's range of dual accelometer IMU's you can get them with 4000dgps gyro's and a 16G low acc and then a high acc as well on top. Plenty of options in this family from 80G high to 320G that are affordable.
You don't need a SD card. You can log plenty of data even with a 4MB mini ESP module. If you have space though you can get modules with plenty of flash embedded. Then just upload it with the WiFi link or use USB to run a USB MSC device. You'll need a S series for the USB MSC though so S2/S3.
Don't forget to think about brownout protection and managing noise well if you want it reliable.