Development and optimization of a reconfigurable telemetry system for sounding rocket payloads

Abstract

This thesis addresses the development of a flight-ready telemetry encoder for the Alaska Student Rocket Project (ASRP) sounding rocket payload. The Frame Oriented eXpandable Integrated circuit Encoder-2007 (FOXIE-07) was developed to resolve crosstalk, timing, and thermal issues in the original FOXIE-03 encoder prototype. A pre-modulation low-pass filter was implemented between the encoder and the FM transmitter to minimize undesired sidebands from the transmitted signal. Complete testing of the FOXIE-07 encoder and pre-modulation filter was performed to certify them as flight-ready components for the SRP5 payload launch from Poker Flat Research Range in 2009.