novatic14/manpads-system-launcher-and-rocket

This repository documents a proof-of-concept prototype of a low-cost guided rocket and launcher system built by an individual using consumer electronics and 3D-printed parts. MANPADS stands for Man-Portable Air-Defense System, a category of shoulder-launched rocket systems. This project is a hobbyist prototype built to explore that form factor, not a functional weapon. The rocket uses folding fins and canard control surfaces for aerodynamic stability and guidance. An ESP32 microcontroller acts as the onboard flight computer, and an MPU6050 sensor handles inertial measurement, tracking orientation and motion during flight. The launcher integrates GPS, a compass, and a barometric pressure sensor for determining its own orientation and sending back telemetry data. The mechanical design was done in Fusion 360 and aerodynamic stability was analyzed using OpenRocket, a simulation tool commonly used in amateur rocketry. Development went through several rounds of iterative mechanical design, electronics integration, and physical launch testing. The total hardware cost of the prototype comes to approximately $96. The repository contains the core engineering outputs: mechanical CAD files for both the rocket and the launcher, firmware source code for the rocket flight controller and the launcher system, OpenRocket simulation files, and supporting documentation. A Google Drive folder linked in the README holds additional media including assembly photos, electronics testing records, system flow diagrams, rocket specifications, and a full bill of materials. Two video links are provided in the README: a 30-second overview and a 5-minute full system walkthrough. No pre-built releases or install instructions are included, since this is a hardware project rather than software.