A Human Rated Rocket

When a rocket is given human rating, it means that it is capable of safely flying an astronaut. The astronaut has to be safe from the pressure of launch, heat, vibration, sound, etc. For that a space capsule is used for the safe transportation of the crew. The capsule is engineered in such a way that it protects the astronaut at all costs.

However greatly manufactured the rocket might be, mishaps happen. If the main rocket was to explode midway the capsule has an escape system that fires up and deflects it away from the exploding rocket. After it is deflected away it starts a steady descent. Then the parachutes spring open, slowing the fall to the ground or water.

This challenge simulates the emergency situation as mentioned above. The rocket the eggonaut is on explodes mid flight. But since the capsule the eggonaut is on responds in time it is able to jettison itself from the main rocket and deflect away from the explosion. The students will carefully design a capsule that can take the impact of hitting the ground, at a speed determined by their parachutes. Which means the students will calculate the terminal velocity of the capsule they made under a parachute, and design a parachute accordingly. Their designs will be air lifted using a drone, and dropped from a height. The parachute should be able to open up, slow the fall and land the capsule safely. The capsule should be able to take the impact. In the end, our eggonaut should not have a scratch on him.