Avionics

The Avionics Department develops the onboard electronics and software that allow ASTRA’s rockets to understand their flight state, transmit telemetry, and safely activate the recovery system. Its systems are therefore responsible for critical functions throughout the entire flight.

Flight Computer & Recovery Systems
The flight computer processes data from onboard sensors to determine parameters such as altitude, velocity, acceleration, and orientation. Based on this information, it detects important flight events and controls the deployment of the recovery system to ensure the rocket can return safely after launch.

Telemetry & Communication
Avionics continuously records flight data and transmits it to the ground during and after the launch. The team develops both the onboard communication hardware and the corresponding ground-station systems required to receive and process this telemetry.

Development & Flight Testing
Each launch is used to validate and improve the avionics systems step by step. Current development includes a new in-house flight computer, improved radio communication architecture, recovery-system electronics, and technologies such as flex electronics for nosecone separation. As the systems mature, the department increasingly focuses on integration, verification, and flight testing.

What Does the Work Look Like?
Work in Avionics combines electronics, embedded systems, RF communication, sensor technology, software development, PCB design, and testing. Members work on everything from designing hardware and writing flight software to integrating systems into the rocket and analysing data after a launch.