current work

The clean-sheet Gen6 reference is finally smaller than the mission problem.

S4 did not reward release authority above 4.569852 m/s in its best tested high-authority campaigns. For the 4 kg reference that is 41.77 J, so the next machine is being treated as a compact programmable release cell rather than an inherited eight-metre launcher.

Reference-architecture evidenceS4 result
Updated 16 September 2026

Current review and restart

Completed work, exact remaining tasks and reproduction commands.

Combined error corners

512 conditional event cases; coupled campaign robustness remains open.

Verification and credibility

Evidence, assumptions and closure needed for the current reference.

Functional architecture of the clean-sheet Gen6 reference cell
reference, not frozen hardware

Independent retained cell + motor-charged mechanical accumulator

A slow actuator charges stored mechanical energy before release. Preload sets the commanded energy. An independent latch releases a short guided pusher, and a local catcher keeps that pusher with the host. Shared power, command and navigation remain common-mode services.

The functional picture is intentionally one level shallower than CAD. Spring form, latch geometry, guide, catcher, motor and structure have not earned detailed geometry yet.

01 · now

Try to kill the reference

Freeze coupon bands for accumulator force-displacement, preload repeatability, latch shock, pusher friction, exit velocity/tip-off and catcher load before detailed CAD.

02 · burden

Charge every cell for what it needs

Compare independent cells, banks and the shared path using structure, actuators, controls, energy, envelope and failure consequences per successfully delivered payload.

03 · mission

Put the missing physics back in

Add release/navigation uncertainty, clearing/settling time, host attitude recovery and complete-manifest effects where S4 deliberately stopped.

04 · decision

Close P92 or change the machine

The reference survives only if installed burden and release-cell evidence survive their declared bands. A failed band changes the architecture instead of widening the band.

05 · scale

2 / 4 / 12 payload arrangements

Start from the 4 kg 3U reference, then test whether the architecture survives adjacent payload classes instead of enlarging CAD.

06 · build

Make one test article reproducible

Drawings, BOM, assembly/inspection, instrumentation, calibration, uncertainty and frozen acceptance criteria before physical testing.

Reference screenProgramme executionMission + redesign streamEngineering closure streamContinuityDocumentation map
design rule

Functional architecture is allowed before detailed geometry.

The diagram above is not a hero render of invented hardware. It records what has actually been selected for the next calculations and leaves the unselected component geometry visibly unselected.