Prepare for Launch

COMBINE YOUR ROCKET AND MISSION CONTROL

30 MINUTES

Houston, we’re ready for takeoff!

See how hardware and software can be combined in the final project of our #OutOfThisWorld STEM project series.

STEP ONE:

With the mission control program finished, you need to attach the hardware components for the arming switch, launch button, and indicator LED.

STEP TWO:

Any ground and open pin pair work for these components, but if you use different pins, you’ll have to make adjustments to your Pipercode program to account for them.

STEP THREE:

With the launch hardware set up, you can give it a test run and make sure your program is working properly. Press the “Start” button in Pipercode, and try flipping the switch, then pressing the button. If the indicator LED does not turn on, or the launch sequence doesn’t start, make sure the pin numbers in your program are correct and that your components are connected properly.

STEP FOUR:

If you haven’t already attached your LEDs to your rocket during Project 1, attach the three LEDs to your rocket, wherever you like. Besure you can still plug them into your Raspberry Pi.

STEP FIVE:

Now plug the three LEDs into three open pins, preferably the ones you used in the “turn_boosters_off” and “turn_boosters_on” functions in the Pipercode project.

STEP SIX:

Once you’ve double checked your connections and pin numbers, you’re ready to launch!

Congratulations, you’re an official #Pipernaut! You’ve accomplished an impressive feat of engineering and computer science, just like the pioneers of space exploration who came before you 50 years ago.