This "Open Tracker" looks pretty good! I wonder why I have not seen it
before?
I have to stay focused for now on the 5-Axis machine and the impellers
as best I can but this is another step in the project that has to be
faced at some point. In fact, it's right after solving the frame
problem.
I can't imagine what it must look like watching me struggle to someone
in the business with an army of engineers and cubic money to solve
problems.
I still believe I can do it.
Monroe
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [AR] Re: Spin stabilized rocket
From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, December 25, 2018 2:21 pm
To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Mon, 24 Dec 2018, Ben Brockert wrote:
lightweight miniature star trackers, e.g. the Sinclair ST-16, are now very
good...
$120k, or if you want they'll throw in a baffle for an extra $20k.
A computer vision board with a camera and similar level of onboard
computation is $60. https://amzn.to/2RigPJk ;...
Reusing that handy Jeff Greason quote: "If you think it's really easy and
we think it's very expensive, that might be because you have surprises
coming."
That said, the Sinclair star trackers do solve a somewhat harder problem,
since they're required to operate for a decade or more in hard vacuum over
a wide temperature range with significant radiation dose. For a few
minutes of rocket flight, you can be more relaxed about some things.
Especially if nobody's going to sue you if the star tracker fails.
Henry