I've seen some of the big boys fitted with cameras, sensors and transmitters. But here's another idea that I'd like to implement perhaps alternatively to fitting rockets with sensors. A ground tracking system hooked up to a Linux box, to follow the rocket and determine altitude and velocity. The benefit here of course is build it once and not have to worry about it getting destroyed because a shut fails to open. Of course the upside of putting sensors on at least one rocket is implementing a tracking device capable of withstanding the kinds of force subjected to in rockets.

Only one flaw in your homegrown cruise missile. The topo maps give the height of natural features only. All those man-made obstacles might prove to be a flight hazard. ;')

-----Original Message----- From: David Nicol

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 13:30:27 -0600, Brian Densmore [email protected] wrote:

...

But what about little sensors in the rocket, to track speed

and altitude

...

and transmit to a land-based Linux server, running a graphical plot of the rocket? Maybe even add a little spy cam to transmit video back to the server?

and servo motors controlling the fins? and a satellite link to topographical maps? Then you'd have an open source cruise missile.