NASRA FDS Technology

NASRA FDS employ a variety of technology to aquire, process, manage and view flight data. These systems include flight performance data modules mounted onboard the rocket, ground and rocket based imagary and database systems to manage the data. Some of the systems employed by NASRA FDS are detailed here.

BlackSky AltAcc II BlackSky
The Black Sky Altimiter/Accelerometer (AltAcc) is a 9V module mounted within the rocket body which records a continuous stream of pressure and acceleration readings during the flight of the rocket. This module has the ability to also record at-rest values for later data reduction. The AltAcc module has an automatic system of launch detection and the ability to fire a main and/or drogue shoot automatically at apogee (and additionally at 500ft for main if drogue used).

NASRA AltAcc Software Suite NASRA FDS
FDS have developed a multi-platform software suite better suited to NASRA's purposes for recovered data from the AltAcc. This software includes:

Windows based data reduction and visualisation system
Unix based data reduction, management and analysis engines
Web-based Visualisation systems
Generic Object Encapsulation of Data Records

Some of the NASRA AltAcc Software Suite is available for download from the NASRA FDS Software link on the FDS WebSite Menu (left). Please note that certain portions of the NASRA software (including the generic object encapsulation source code) contain code taken from the original BlackSky DOS software provided with the AltAcc, and where this is the case, any original copyrights or licences still apply.

NASRIS FDS Interface NASRA FDS in Association with NASRA Data Systems
System and data interfaces providing transparent data and query access to and from NASRIS and the FDS data system. The FDS interface also ensures valid data-tagging throughout the interface modules for NASRIS/FDS.

In-Flight Visual Record Systems Estes and Trust
FDS employ a variety of rocket-mounted visual recording devices including Estes manufactured camera nosecone modules and custom-mounted digital camera devices from Trust.

On-Site Visual Record Systems Sony, Trust, Kodak and Minolta
FDS employ a variety of visual recording devices on and around the launch site, to record the launch and flight of any NASRA rockets. These systems include Digital Camcorders as well as digital and traditional cameras. Laptop mounted (WebCam) capture devices are also used for additional coverage when applicable.