Integration of Antennas onto Rockets Made out of Carbon Fiber

Cicely Sharafati*, Jonathan Pulley*, Matteo Cerasoli* and Patrick Browning, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Engineering (Physical Sciences & Engineering)

Student’s Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 

The purpose of this study is to determine what kind of antennas would be the best to integrate into the outer skin of a rocket manufactured from carbon fiber and how to facilitate such an integration. This study is a joint collaboration with the West Virginia University Amateur Radio Club and West Virginia University Experimental Rocketry Club (WVUER), whose work comes from designing and developing sounding rockets. Antennas are vital when launching rockets, as they allow for live data transmission back to a ground station, which could include systems such as tracking and other kinds of sensors. WVUER has traditionally used fiberglass tubes for their rockets, though carbon fiber is becoming more prevalent as an alternative due to its increased strength and other advantages. Unfortunately, carbon fiber’s tendency to block radio waves requires experimenting with different antenna types and orientations to find a design that performs to a satisfactory degree. The results of this study could be used by WVUER to build rockets out of carbon fiber, while still maintaining and possibly enhancing real time telemetry data during flight. 

Funding: NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other