# Software for Rockets with Charles Aylward

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-04-04
- Length: 1h 37m
- Episode: 584
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/584-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward/

## Summary

Charles Aylward, a software and hardware consultant at Grizzly Peak Systems, discusses his time at Astra, a 'new space' launch vehicle company. He explains how he designed flight control software for small rockets using rigorous engineering principles, such as eliminating software modes and treating debug data as first-class telemetry. Aylward details the technical challenges of distributed systems, real-time constraints, and the use of Ethernet and CAN bus to ensure deterministic behavior in a lean team environment. He emphasizes that this rigor, including specific design reviews and checklists, is essential for safety and reliability in high-stakes hardware development.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=0) Introduction: Charles Aylward and Astra
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=0) New Space vs. Old Space: Commercial Electronics in Rockets
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=0) Software Architecture: Distributed Systems and Real-Time Constraints
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=0) Design Principles: No Modes and First-Class Debug Data
- [33:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=2017) Safety Principles: Least Surprise and Single Source of Control
- [44:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=2664) System Design: Walking Skeletons and Juddson's Razor
- [44:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=2664) Real-Time Operating Systems and Scheduler Selection
- [44:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=2664) Consulting and the Value of Rigor in Startups
- [1:16:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-04-software-for-rockets-with-charles-aylward#t=4619) Checklists, Test Plans, and Learning from Failure

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Astra (company)
- Grizzly Peak Systems (company)
- Planet Labs (company)
- Zephyr (other)
- CAN bus (other)
- Ethernet (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [279: Top Pedant](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-02-22-279-top-pedant) (Embedded.fm)
- [67: Software for Things That Can Kill People](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-09-11-67-software-for-things-that-can-kill-people) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 270: A Cluster of Microcontrollers, a rocket engine from scratch, and a look inside Voyager](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-10-ep-270-a-cluster-of-microcontrollers-a-rocket-engine-from-scratch-and-a-look-ins) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [94: Don't Be Clever](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-25-94-dont-be-clever) (Embedded.fm)
- [290: Rule of Thumbs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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