Starring Verna and Randy as Scully and Mulder

It's almost October, and Verna and Randy are busy investigating X-files from 1987 to the present.  Meanwhile, their Fire and Smoke features Spook-tacular Flying, the Power of the Internet, and one bird-brained modeler.

Direct staging APCP to BP motors

TRF member rocket999 provided a link to the following interesting article: Direct Non-electronic Staging From Reloadable Composite Motors To Black Powder Motors, Jay Calvert, NAR # 71767 C Division, Naram-46, Great Meadow, The Plains, Virginia, August 2004.

Jay studied several potential methods and found that you could reliably ignite upper stage BP motors from a booster stage APCP motors using staging igniters.  He used both the pyrogen covered ends from Copperheads as well as home dipped ones.  The main issue appears to be finding a composite motor with an appropriately short delay.  You obviously want the sustainer to be pointed upward when it ignites!  Unfortunately, in most cases the standard Aerotech -4 second delay is too long for most applications (especially if you get a 'bonus' delay).  A powerful booster and a light sustainer may be workable.  Drilling AT delays below 4 seconds is not recommended and would be uncertified.  Jay also points out that you can get down to a -3 second delay from CTI motors. 

HoJo progresso

Well, the Raygun Gothic HoJo is basically flight ready.  Since the last update, the fins were completed, rail buttons were mounted on stand-offs and a couple of rings were added over the main tube.  The Super-Fil fillets are drying.

I haven't made much progress on the decoration.  I grabbed some 1/2" copper ells for the 'spin motors' but I don't think they'd look good.  The local plumbing supplier was out of the 3/8", which I think would be better.  As usual I'm averse to actually ordering stuff for a rocket like this.  In general, I'm swinging back to a more scale look.  That is, less odd trim and mix of colors.  After sanding and priming, I think I'll paint the body olive drab and go from there.  I need a better view of the spin motors on the real HoJo.  I may just want to build them from cardboard or balsa.

I am also considering renaming the thing.

New N-Prize Forums

I see the N-prize folks now have discussion forums.  In case you don't feeling like looking through the N-Prize site, you can see the abbreviated rules below.

VeraTech Phantom Sentinel and the Scroton revisited (updated)

Not quite a monocopter but along the same line, VeraTech's Phantom Sentinel is a small spinning UAV.  It appears to be a product vs. in R&D.  Also cool.  (hat to to Ken from ZZakk's Lab)  {In looking for the photo re-posted below, I found I had previously posted about this.}

Update: I struck-through the phrase above because Ken pointed out that, since it has only one wing, the Phantom Sentinel is in fact a monocopter. It just happens to have two motor booms.

The closest rocket powered doohickey that I've seen is Chris Eilbeck's Scroton.

Lockheed Martin Samarai monocopter UAV and Ed Miller's monster

Here's a video reportedly from LockMart.  This remote control mono is propeller driven vs. rocket powered, but is still cool.  It has a 30" wing but their goal is to get down to 2"-4".  Via Botjunkie.



The article also notes Ed Millers huge three stage, J-J-K, monocopter. Now that is really cool :)

Standoffs and wood stain?

Since Saturday, I embedded a screw in the gap between the motor mounts on the HoJo, attached the mount and a 3/8" tubular nylon shock tether (overkill, but I used what I got), and have started attaching the fins. 

Next, I'll need standoffs for the rail buttons.  My default will be to cut them from wood, but I wonder of I can find something weirder looking? They need to be about 0.625".

Later today, I'll look for some 'gothic' trim.   In searching around, I gravitated toward steampunk sites and images.  This means metal piping, rivets, knobs and sometimes finished wood. Wood?  Hmmmm....  I'm back to thinking about small copper pipe fittings for the 'spin motors'.  I'll check out a plumbing supply place ance see if I can fins some small ones.  I still would like an olive drab paint job but am thinking for the cone I might paint the top metallic copper, the thin raised band and window band silver, and then wood stain the lower part.  This will either look really cool or like crap.


Somehow in the real-time measuring and assembly this weekend, I ended up with the mount recessed about 1 1/2".  This was too much so I trimmed about 1/2 off.  Now, the fins are almost flush with the base instead of resting about 3/8" up.  Oh well, this IS a goony HoJo.  Better re-measure for the standoffs!

Howitzer Lessons

Pneumatic launcher. Rocket exits at 660 G's and 1000 mph. Cool.

(There appears to be a problem with the photo linkage on Flickr. You can still click below to get to the image.)
Howitzer Lessons, originally uploaded by jurvetson.

Cam pitch monocopter

Mechanical wizardry from ZZakk's Lab:

Ken cp f0, originally uploaded by jal3net.

Laos Rocket Festival Photo1

Following the rocketry safety code...in the Bizarro World!

Laos Rocket Festival Photo1, originally uploaded by Laos Essential Artistry.

Build session...good progress

Don Brown hosted another of his build sessions today.  Before I get to my build, I'll say thanks to Don and Anita for hosting...again.  Don grilled brats, provided salad and drinks, and we chipped in for pizza.  We had a a garage-full with regulars Paul, Mike, and Jim as well as newbie Tom who make a long trek down from PA.

I managed to:

• Cut the rings for, and assemble the 4 x 24mm motor mount for the Raygun Gothic HoJo.  I still have to add retention, which will be made using the center chunk that was left over after I cut the four 24 mm holes from the rings.
• Cut extra 3" bulkheads and four bulkheads for BT-101 (4").  The latter will be the basis for the motor mount for my unplanned BT-101 model that I have been complaining about (with two extras).
  
• Cut the four HoJo fins, including the multi-segmented tabs.  These are larger than planned and were based on the fins on Don's Public Enemy 3" HoJo.  I do know there are several variants and suspect the Madcow version that I supposedly scaled from 2.6" to 3" has the smaller fins.  I think the larger ones look better.
• Slotted the tube and dry-fit the new parts.
  
• The nose cone, body, motor mount and fins weigh 25 oz.  Four D12's are still looking good.
  

I also managed to:

• Shoot the bull and laugh my butt off.
• Eat 3 brats, 2 pieces of pizza, and 2 helpings of salad with Green Goddess dressing.
  
• Help cut some 8" sewer pipe for  Jim's tower launcher.
• Break Don's hearing protector.
• Break the blade on his bandsaw...I have to figure a way to pay him back for the devastation.

Forgot camera, no photo evidence...

Nozzle? We don't need no steenkin' nozzle! (Update)

Although I can't quote any equations, I've read several overviews of how rocket nozzles work, specifically the standard de Laval variety, and generally understand concepts like expansion ratios. At least I thought so, so correct me if I'm wrong.

Due to the physical constraints of the motor design, the nozzles on commercial hobby rocket motors are not optimal.  Their nozzles are under expanded due to a combination of their mechanical design and the materials used.  For instance, screw-on closures limit the size of the nozzle and the strength of graphite makes machining a more fully expanded nozzle difficult.  The sugar motor crowd often uses steel for their nozzles and probably get closer to optimal ratios.  However, from what I've read (I don't have a reference and certainly can't back this claim up with theory), the sub-optimal hobby rocket nozzles only have a performance penalty of a few percent.

I have also seen several reports on nozzleless designs.  I know Jeff Taylor of Loki Research has successfully flown one (or more ?).  A recent post on SugPro points to this nozzleless motor, which seemed to work pretty well.



In a later post, the builder, Fori, offers the following to address the performance of nozzleless designs.

"The simplicity,reliability and cost effectivenes due to the avoidance of a nozzle,the simple propellant configuration and the reduced insulation requirements, make the nozzleless rocket motors an attractive concept in spite of its lower specific impulse (by about 20%) compared to nozzled motors. In addition, the elimination of the nozzle assembly is used to increase the overall amount of propellant,that ,in most instances, can compensate for the reduced performance."

Timnat Y.M. ,Advanced Chemical Rocket Propulsion, Academic Press,London,1987,Chap.6

I find this interesting and, if I were making sugar motors, it might be fun to work on nozzleless designs.  After all, home made nozzles generally are heavy or costly or hard to make yourself (people with metal lathes need not reply to this).

Does anybody have additional references on nozzleless motors?

Update:

Here's another relevant video.  Hat tip to Randy Dormans!

Water on the Moon and Mars

There are so many reports on these findings that I almost decided not to post about them. I won't repeat a bunch of links, but will point you to this post by Clark Lindsey.

And this one from the Houston Chronicle, which includes an interview with University of Maryland astronomer Jessica Sunshine, one of the scientists who made the discovery. 

"It's sort of just sticking on the surface," Sunshine said. "We always think of the moon as dead, and this is sort of a dynamic process that's going on."

Hmmm, maybe ALICE propellant is looking even better.

4 oz

That's how much nose weight was required to get 1 caliber of stability margin on the Raygun Gothic Birdhouse.  After a bad experience with the RockSim model for the D-Fusion Bomb (original version without added fins), I decided to go for the full caliber.  My motors of choice are the F35 for the new-ish 24/60 casing or the F39 for the old-ish 24/40.

Raygun Gothic rocket update

Here's the Raygun Gothic Birdhouse. I got antsy so I clamped my power drill into my vise and ground on the clear fins.  All that's left is the nose weight.  I updated my RockSim model and I don't think much will be required. Update: The 'pilot' image and clear window is not installed...it may fly with a white plastic cap from a mailing tube...

I also put together the nose cone for the Raygun Gothic HoJo.  A bulkhead was glued to the bottom of the birdhouse, the shoulder was glued over that, and a 2nd bulkhead was glued to the end.  A long eyebolt goes through all three.

I don't need YA29mmR (yet another 29mm rocket) so I'm going to go for 4 x 24mm. I'll work on the rings and fins at Warthog's build session.

Get ready to Lock and Load this Friday

Erik Gates gave us a heads-up on The History Channel's Lock and Load a couple of months ago, and now it it upon us:

Friday, September 25 10:00 PM
Saturday, September 26 02:00 AM

Gunny gets a first-hand look at the "rocket's red glare" as he demonstrates rockets dating back to ancient Chinese to today's state of the art self guiding missiles. Weapons include: the ancient Korean Hwacha--a rocket powered weapon designed to launch a volley of deadly arrows; The Congreve--the rocket that inspired the Star Spangled Banner; the TOW--one of the first "guided" rockets, and today's state-of-the-art Javelin.

Raygun Gothic Birdhouse - status

I'm not near the Dungeon so I have to go without a photo.  The rocket is almost there.  I pretty much just need to even up the fins and then figure out how much nose weight is needed.  Here is what I've done so far:

Thermite: Good for igniters, hard on jack-o-lanterns

(via Make)

TRA streamlines the FAA's Level-3 waiver process and facilitates the Big A$$ Rocket of the Day

I'm sure you remember that last December the FAA issued a new set of rules concerning amateur rocketry. This was lauded by the low and mid-powered rocketry world since there would no longer be any notification requirements for rockets that weigh up to 53 oz (3.3 lb) and which use less than 4.4 oz (125 g) of propellant (Level-1). For high power rockets through 'O' impulse (Level-2, up 40,960 N-s of total impulse), the requirements stayed largely the same. However, for the really big dogs of sport rocketry, the new Level-3 requirements added many new requirements. Many bemoaned this provision and predicted a sharp decrease in flights over 'O' impulse. Since existing approved waivers were grandfathered, I didn't hear much about this until now.

Well, the Tripoli folks weren't going to sit quietly so they formed a committee to make the process easier for their membership. This committee included big names in high power such as Chuck Rogers, Dick Embry, Pat Gordzelik and Gene Nowaczyk. They are about to release a waiver template, guidelines, and a sample of an approved Level-3 waiver. They will also provide member services with the required 6 degrees of freedom 3-sigma dispersion analyses.

The guinea pig for their efforts is also my Big A$$ Rocket of the Day - the Agent 99K project. Shown in the attached photo, Agent 99K is scheduled to fly today at XPRS in Black Rock.  Agent 99 will fly to around 99,000 feet on a P8900 staged to an N2100.

(hat tip to Rocketry Planet, photo via Ross Ohmen)

I had tagged this story a couple of days ago but didn't get around to passing it along. Clark Lindsey reports:

A NASA led team is looking at combining electromagnetic launch and a ramjet for the first stage of a system with a rocket powered second stage: Riding a Slingshot into Space: A project under development at NASA may someday give astronauts that option - Delta-V/Technology Review - Sept.18.09.

The EM launcher would get the vehicle supersonic where the ramjet would take over.

And yet another MDRA ESL-136 report, with...ants

Dr. Zooch has a humorous report on a "horrific" event - a under-power lawn dart. Luckily, nobody was harmed, even the ant-stronauts, who were released back into the wild. Their Dr. even gave them a Tylenol.

Another MDRA ESL-136 report, with rocket girls

Rockets and Such reports a successful launch day. He had a successful J350 flight and even brought bunch of rocket girls. They might not have been rocket girls when they came, but they are now.

Black Brant XII/CARE launch

Wallops launched the CARE experiment yesterday evening. I wasn't able to watch, but here is a great video of the cloud dispersal taken from Eldersburg, MD. The artificial noctilucent cloud was formed by the exhaust particles of the rocket's fourth stage at an altitude of about 173 miles.

Here is a video from Wallops:

Stomp rocket girl

DSC05019.JPG, originally uploaded by George's Gallery.

Launch Report 2009-8

Location: Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (MDRA ESL-136)
Weather: mid-70's, not too breezy, but the wind was in an unfavorable direction
Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 65
Total motors: Today - 5; YTD - 77


Find more photos like this on Our Planet


My Flights:

1. NCR Big Brute on a G64-6 -The boost unexpectedly turned into the wind. The delay was late, which probably saved it from the trees. Still, it landed in a knee deep bean field and was hard to spot.
   
2. Instructables Frisbee Saucer on a D12-0 -The boost had some wiggle, which is not uncommon for many saucer-like objects.
   
3. MicroMaxx Saucer on 'Roids on a C6-3 - Unlike the previous flights, this one had a lot of coning. Still cool.
4. TLP Rapier on an E18-4 - Nice boost. I didn't see the ejection but the cord snagged a fin. Luckily, Neil McGilvray has the best rocket spotting eyes this side of the Mississippi and it was recovered.
   
5. Quest DC-Y Space Clipper on a D24-4 -Very fast, cool boost...with a loud whistle!
   

Scrubbed and aborted:

1. Styro Pyro - no motor vendor
2. Upscale Big Brute - not vendor, no motor
3. Art Applewhite Super Cinco on the Micro-Hybrid - Didn't pass gas. The APCP pre-heater lit but the burst disc didn't burn through. Unfortunately, there is no recovery and the gas was wasted.
   

MAE students check out Ballistic Barbie rocket

MAE students check out Ballistic Barbie rocket, originally uploaded by Propulsion Research Center.

Odd'l Rockets - the new oddroc vendor

These are the Odd Models, the ones that'll make your Range Safety Officer call for a "Heads Up!"

Rocket birdhouse building frenzy

Well, not exactly a frenzy but compared to the last month or so the Dungeon is buzzing. I surveyed the rocket birdhouses, began gathering parts I had lying around and listing what I need to acquire.

Raygun Gothic Birdhouse

I first cut, sawed, and pried the top off.  I found that, with a little grinding on the side of the body opening, a 2.5" tube fits snugly.  So I slid a tube in, marked the needed length and cut the tube to fit.  I'll use one 24mm-2.5" cardboard ring and will drill a 24mm+ hole in the base.  Motor retention will be provided via a bolt inserted from the inside of the body.

I need to make a shoulder for the cone and drill a port to add nose weight.  Fins are still the big issue.  To use the stock fins or not, that is the question. I may just want to add clear fin extensions to these and save the swept back fins in my concept design for another build.

Raygun Gothic HoJo

The fins are attached with both glue and wire brads and  were easy to remove.  My quick and dirty measurement was right -  a 3" tube matches the base perfectly.  I'll make a shoulder with coupler tubing and a couple of bulkheads. I have the rings and tubing for a 29mm motor mount but am contemplating a 24mm cluster.

I fiddled with body tube lengths and fin sizes.  I started with the numbers from a RockSim for the Madcow 2.6"  HoJo, which I scaled to 3.125".  I rounded the fin dimensions up and think I'll use 1/8" plywood. 

I also played with the body tube until it looked right. If I used the correct length body tube, it looked funny because the birdhouse cone is so much shorter than the scale one.  It looked even worse when I used a tube that would keep the entire rocket the correct scale length.  The actual tube will be in between. I know, it will look kinda funny in any event :)

Laser powered flying saucers

R2K snagged the following video. I've seen these on TV and the net, but I can never get enough of this stuff.

Xing outside of Ft Davis, Texas

Xing outside of Ft Davis, Texas, originally uploaded by Oneida Val.

Imagined uses for the rocket birdhouses

The Raygun Gothic Birdhouse and the Raygun Gothic HoJo:

Testing NASA's future dune buggies

The Spaceports blog reports on the moon rovers and robots that are being tested in NASA's Desert Research and Technology Study (D-RATS) on the Black Point Lava Flow, Arizona.

NASA Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS) web page. The Arizona State University News School of Earth and Space Exploration provides more detailed news information along with a Desert RATS FlickrSite photos.

Cooling glitch makes a zombie out of Xombie...2nd leg aborted

Rats, Clark Lindsey reports that a cooling glitch caused minor damage to the Xombie.  As a result, they didn't attempt the return leg of this Level 1 attempt.  They'll have another go in October.

Rocket Xombie girls!

As seen on The Launch Pad (credit to Nicky J Rocket Girl) and at the Masten NG-LLC attempt.

Stalled projects, Things, epoxy casting, and another birdhouse

This post will be a hodgepodge status update on the projects in the dungeon - stalled, active, and new.

Yes, my 8" MLAS and BT-101 projects are still stalled.  The MLAS will likely stay that way until I stumble upon the clear tubing I want.  Buying the stuff is still an option, but it just doesn't seem right to do so since I cobbled it together thus far from stuff I had laying around.  The BT-101 is not exciting me but I'll try to cut some rings later in the month at Warthog's building session.

Since I wasn't building anything and continued to lament the issue, Ken from ZZakk's Lab took pity and sent me the plans for a lifting body glider called the Thing.  Seemed like a good project to keep me off the streets and to build in front of the TV.

Not having the specified 1/32" balsa, I built one out of 1/16" basswood just to see how it went together.  Well, I mucked it up.  However, after sectioning pieces, overlaying paper, bending down and tacking side body pieces and adding winglets (whew!), it now seems to glide decently.  Upside down, but decent. This is the top one in the photo.

I tried another with 1/64" plywood instead of the 1/32" balsa (the bottom one).  This went together well although the plywood took some effort to form properly.  A little steam helped.  I added clay nose weight until it glided.  I then added the stabilizers.  After tossing it off my deck I now find I need less nose weight. Why it seems to nose dive after I added weight in the back, I don't understand.

Next, I picked up some cheap casing resin and am going to try molding an epoxy Toypedo rocket. This material is probably not optimal but the resin was cheap (50% off at Michaels).  I built a core out of BT-60 and BT-50 tubing.  It will form a void where I can add similar tubes on the real build.  My latest thought is to see if I can buy/steal/trade some microballoons from Warthog to make the casting lighter.

Today, I was in the area so I decided to scrounge through Michaels to see if there was any Halloween props that looked rocket worthy.  There were plenty but none that I had to have.  As I wandered by the aisle with wooden doohickies, I spotted the following birdhouse!

I couldn't resist.  In fact, they were on sale so I couldn't resist three of them.  They are about 10" high, 4.5" in diameter that the widest point, and the base is about 3.125".  I think I'll make one into a retro spaceship and maybe one into the cone for a 'goony' 3" HoJo.  Random thoughts: when I get home I need to weigh them and see if 24mm is enough motor; with care, I should be able to remove the top cap; the bottom plate will be drilled in situ and a suffer assembly will be slid in from the top; the hole will be covered in clear plastic; I may add clear fins; or I may add find like those on the Raygun Gothic Rocketship; maybe both, eventually.  Hmm, the Raygun Gothic Birdhouse? Raygun Gothic Birdship?

P.S.  - I've had experience with this type of birdhouse construction before :)  Version #1 - Version #2

P.P.S. - I still want Quest's MLAS.

Steve Eves' 1:10 Scale Saturn V is too big for a single DVD

Liberty Launch Systems (aka Rockets Magazine) just announced the release of their 3-disk DVD set chronicling the project from conception through launch and on to its final home at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Xombie on deck!

Masten will go for the NG-LLC Level 1 challenge this morning.  Here's a video of the Xombie's first untethered hover.  (hat tip to Parabolic Arc)

D-Fusion and Stink Bombs on EMRR

D-Fusion Bomb
Stink Bomb

Howard Kuhn: Master Scale Modeler

I got this from a mail list I'm on but the original source is the Scaleroc Yahoo Group.

Taking a little time out for a break from the everyday discussions I just wish to inform you that a great US Scale master modeler, Howard Kuhn, is very ill, as reported by his son, Craig Kuhn, on the OldRockets Yahoo web site (see http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/OldRockets /message/ 37571) . For those that don't know Howard, he was the founder of Competition Model Rockets (CMR), a small model rocket company that existed in the heyday of NAR Competition Rocketry (late 60's and early 70's), and then into the late 1980's.
....
Howard's son has developed a nice web site of photos/scans of material from Howard, including photos of his Scale models (still in great shape after all these years), prototype photos (Nike Tomahawk, Javelin, etc), articles by him, contest photos, etc. To see this site go to: http://modelrocketm useum.com/ gallery/main. php. Several photos of the NASA prototype D-Region are in Scale Roc files (kindly posted by Mr. Fitch).
....

A 'ldrs' even if not at LDRS

IMG_0038, originally uploaded by Spaceman Spiffy.

Even if it didn't actually launch, the Raygun Gothic Rocketship was also a large and dangerous rocket ship.

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #3

IMG_0132, originally uploaded by Spaceman Spiffy.

Dr. Zooch's Ant Lifting Bodies, Parts #1 and #2

The good Dr. may have done what the Augustine Commission couldn't...

New world land speed record for RC cars

And, of course, a rocket was involved.  The Black Knight: Hybrid Rocket RC Car blog reports a run at 163.51 mph.  This is a new world land speed RC record beating the previous 161.34 mph set by Nic Case in 2008. My congrats to ziaggy12345.  If you go to the top page to can find photos of the car, info on the hybrid motor, etc.

CARE launch, tomorrow, Sept. 15, between 7:30 and 7:57 p.m. EDT

Just a reminder to myself. WEBCAST - TWITTER

Nippin' at Armadillo's heels

Paul Breed reports his Blue Ball had a 106 second stable hover. His qualification window is October 30-31. If you don't want to follow his blog, he is also on Twitter.  If you don't want to follow either, there's always the Dungeon.

Masten's Xombie also is having some success. Ben Brockert reports, also on Twitter, that they had two full duration flights.  These were stable despite 30+ mph crosswinds. Their windows are September 15-16 for Level 1 and October 7-8/October 28-29 for Level 2.

Even better videos of Armadillo's successful X-prize flights

These are really good. Check out the flame, the stability, and the gimballing of the thrust at landing. Includes on-board footage of touchdown.

Before the rocketry forums, there was...

Sunsite, a link to the olden days of rocketry internet

Jerry

Yes, someone has won the $1M

Armadillo's success does not guarantee them the purse. If another team, ie Unreasonable Rocket or Masten, has a better mean landing accuracy, then they will edge Armadillo out. It's a good day in any event.

Armadillo flight videos

Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2 Flight 1


Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2 Flight 2

Return to sender - Armadillo successfully completes leg #2

Clark Lindsey reports via PeterDiamandis:

"flight 2 takeoff! and perfect flight back to original pad. Success!"

All they have to do is get their lander back to the staging area.

X marks the spot - one down and one to go

Clark's latest update (#7).  First leg complete, weather looks good for a return leg.

Did the NGLLC kill Twitter?

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Armadillo NGLLC attempt today - complete coverage

Armadillo will fly the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge today at the Caddo Mills Airport northeast of Dallas. Weather permitting. Clark Lindsey is all over this event, amassing a list of on-line resources.

Post #1

Post #2

(I'm still tagging this as the X-Prize Cup, even though that term seems to have gone by the wayside.)

Big a$$ rocket of the day - Thunderbird 3

Cool, even if not a flying model.



Uploaded on September 11, 2009 by hesterjenna

"Excuse me while kiss the sky"

Hendrix, Sep 11, 2009, originally uploaded by Russell Blink.

Lyrics by Hendrix. Hendrix by Armadillo. Photo by Russell Blink.

Did it hit Mach, or not?

There's another thread on TRF discussing whether a model rocket can break Mach.  The discussion covers the OOP FSI Mach-1 Dart and the OOP RocketVision Machbuster (mine disappeared on a G55).  The discussion wouldn't be complete without mentioning rocketjunkie's 'EX' 13mm D40 that pushes small modrocs to 1000 mph.  The most interesting item is  Bob Krech's post on the requirements to hit Mach, which I'll quote below. 

Bloodhound SSC's monopropellant rocket motor

Clark Lindsey passes along a link to the BloodhoudSSC's web page that describes the static test of a 44.5 kN (10,000 lb) thrust, H2O2 monopropellant rocket motor.  Video included.

NASA ARES-1 DM-1 Rocket Motor Static Test at ATK

NASA ARES-1 DM-1 Rocket Motor Static Test at ATK, originally uploaded by S. Hurley.

Steel as a motor casing material

In his latest post, Randy's Rocketry describes the steel casing he is using in his current motor design.  He also explores the use of steel in general.  This discussion is driven by the fact the both TRA and NAR do not allow steel casings.  Randy presents a good argument with examples but he does note that he flies from a bunker at RRS. 

Static fire of the 5-segment Ares-I SRB

As cool as this is, a burn of 123 seconds is awfully long. Still, it's worth waiting to the bitter end of the video as the announcer provides several interesting factoids.

Another Wallops launch with results visible throughout the region

Here's a recycled PRNewswire release about the launch of the Charged Aerosol Release Experiment (CARE). The joint Naval Research Laboratory and DoD project will launch on a NASA four-stage Black Brant XII and will study the artificial noctilucent cloud formed by the exhaust particles of the fourth stage.  The experimenters will study the cloud from the ground and via the STPSat-1 spacecraft. At about 62 miles altitude, this should be visible throughout the region. It will be interesting to see if the cloud is actually discernible from the D.C. area.

The launch is scheduled for Sept. 15 between 7:30 and 7:57 p.m. EDT with backups between Sept. 16 - 20.

WEBCAST

TWITTER

(hat tip to Clark Lindsey)

PS - I have to learn not to post on my way out the door.  I make enough spelling and grammatical mistakes when I'm paying attention.

An Unreasonable rocket vacation

Paul Breed reports that he's taken vacation from his day job to focus on rocketry.

51 days and 7 testing weekends to go.....

Amateur satellite watchers are on the job

Spaceflight Now reports on the amateur detective work being performed to determine the nature of a highly secret satellite that was launched yesterday from the Cape. LockMart's PAN satellite was launched yesterday by an Atlas 5. Using the satellite's trajectory and signals, the amateur skywatchers determined that it matched the Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) communications spacecraft. This leads them to surmise that this was a 'quick-build' to fill the gap before the next-generation Mobile User Objective System is ready for deployment. I'm not terribly interested in the answer, but find it awesome that amateur astronomers and do this kind of stuff.

Designing a rocket motor, by the numbers

Step 1: Pop over to Randy's Rocketry.
Step 2: Read the post.
Step 3: Subscribe to his feed.

(Yeah, you can always just check back on a daily basis.)

Gothic Raygun Rocket Launch

Gothic Raygun Rocket Launch, originally uploaded by danoday.

I like laser shows and rockets :)

New launch guide design - Fly Apart Rail Guides

The latest issue of the Apogee Newsletter (#243) is dedicated to a new concept that Tim is calling Fly Apart Rail Guides. These are the pop lugs of the rail world. They guide the rocket on the rail like standard buttons/guides but release from the rocket after it leaves the rail. No guide --> less drag.

My 10 favorite albums

After listening to XM Radio's Classic Vinyl and Deep Tracks, I began mulling over what I thought my favorite albums of all time were. It's so hard; there are so many. Here are a few that changed my life (roughly in temporal order).



1. The Doors - This was my first album, evah. My best friend at the time had two copies and gave me one. I was hooked and it most certainly wasn't The End. The Doors still are one of my favorite bands.



2. Bayou Country - Creedence Clearwater Revival - Yeah, country rock before there was a genre called country rock. CCR is another of my favorites and you still can't beat Proud Mary

3. Led Zeppelin (I) - When I heard their name I thought it was odd. They blew me away and I've been Dazed and Confused ever since :)



4. Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas - Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - If you were in southern Texas in the 70's you'll understand this one. I ain't never had Too Much Fun.



5. Tres Hombres - ZZ Top - What can I say? My favorite album by my favorite band of all time. Until then, I knew them only from a couple of their hits. But nothing was the same after this album, a-how-how.




6. Blow By Blow - Jeff Beck - What? An instrumental album with jazz influences? Yep, and Jeff's guitar riffs still echo in my head.




7. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd - I'm again at a loss of word on this one. How do you describe perfection? The only album I've had on LP, cassette, CD and MP3. 'Nuff said.



8. Bridge of Sighs - Robin Trower - Pure blazing energy with ethereal twists. If you don't love this one you don't love rock.




9. Fandango! - ZZ Top - As much as I loved other albums by the other bands, The Little Ol' band From Texas is the only one who blew my top, knocked me on my Tush, and got two albums on my list.




10. The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Now I feel old and worn out. This is the only one of my top 10 that came out after the 70's. It's also the only compilation, probably because I wasn't gathering albums like I had been. All I can say is his music touched my soul and this 2 CD set is, well, essential.





Now, that wasn't too hard. 11 - 20 might be impossible, however.

The Raygun Gothic Rocketship's business end

IMG_7526, originally uploaded by oaklandEarthGirl.

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #1

IMG_7584, originally uploaded by oaklandEarthGirl.

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #2

IMG_7624, originally uploaded by oaklandEarthGirl.

I built a few match head rockets when I was kid...but this is crazy

I love when the bomb-tech explains what you do if there is a problem when fooling with flammable stuff: you "de-ass" the area.



By the way, fooling with match heads is both dangerous and less than impressive. Unless maybe you're the Mythbusters. Note Jamie's disclaimer at the end.

rocket_laser

rocket_laser, originally uploaded by *christopher*.

Don't Look Directly at the Light

Don't Look Directly at the Light, originally uploaded by Karon.

The Corn Moon in alignment with the Capitol

DCist points out a unique astronomical alignment in The District.

(hat tip to Whitney's Bayourat Rocketry)

Quest MicroMaxx Alien UFO on 'Roids on EMRR

The review is posted. However, I managed to hose the database entries when trying to link my flight logs :eek:

Ban the shaky cam

I've complained about the 'shaky cam' before, most recently in regards to Quarantine. IO9 classifies its use in a 'the good, the bad, and the ugly' schema. I somewhat agree but would prefer to never see it again. I tend to think that, if the movie is good, I can tolerate it. If the movie is not so good, then it totally sucks.

Quest MLAS waiting for decals

Since I saw Quest's ad in Sport Rocketry, Quest employee Shrox reported they are waiting for the decals and it won't be long.

A quick-shift kit and the near end of Blue Origin

In the early 70's, my friends and I used to take our cars to a mechanic named 'Cheater' for his 'super tune ups'. He also installed a quick-shift kit in my transmission. Cheater was a drag racer so we were sure he knew how to tweak our rides.

I hadn't remembered the name for quite a while. Today, Google yielded an entry from the El Paso Times history blog, Tales from the Morgue. I think this is he!

Cheater Bella came to El Paso with the military as a young man and earned his nickname, he said, by racing cars on the East Side. If you beat other drivers, they figured you were cheating...

I knew he was a helicopter pilot and had heard stories about several of his colorful exploits, but had never seen anything in 'print'. The linked article recounts several of said exploits but focuses on a helicopter crash near Alpine, TX in 2003. He had several passengers including Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon the new-space company Blue Origin (site seems to be off-line so the link is to Wikipedia). Alpine is kinda in the same neck of the woods as Blue Origin's test facility north of Van Horn so I can only assume this was a Blue Origin scouting mission?

Bezos might have been in West Texas looking at property.

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 1/3 scale X-15 dry fit

Via TRF. Will fly at Plaster Blaster.

Berlin TV tower liftoff

Well, not really but still funny. I actually thought it was going to be a CATO...er I mean implosion. (via DRB)

Berlin TV tower - lift off from Fabian Tischer on Vimeo.

Sport Rocketry, September/October 2009

The three main features in this issue are the National Sport Launch, Team America Rocket Challenge and a tech article on building an electronics bay.

I like the cover photo of the high power Jayhawk (a fuzzy version is shown here). NSL may not be as big as LDRS in terms of average size of the motors flown, but you can't say NAR isn't into HPR either. All together there were 5 articles on the event, including one on the new Upscale Competition. The rockets are upscales of commercially produced kits and scoring is by popular vote.

TARC is a great event but the article didn't excite me. Still, the participants deserve recognition.

The altimeter bay article should prove useful to anyone thinking about electronics. It provides the wiring diagram and physical layout of a complicated arrangement of 2 timers and 3 altimeters to handle staging and recovery for a complex rocket. It also shows the mounting of a GPS unit and covers things like setting the system up, static ports and the charges themselves. Good article.

Finally, I spotted a cool ad...from Quest...for the MLAS! I immediately checked the website but it's not there yet. The ad says it is product no. 3014 and will retail for $28.99.

Free issue of Ad Astra magazine

FAIW, getting the free issue requires you provide name, address, email addy, etc. Obviously, they want to gather contacts who might eventually join the NSS. And I don't really blame them. However, I declined on all accounts. Franky, I get enough new-space news from Hobby Space and other on-line sources. But your mileage may vary, soooooo.....

Via Clark Lindsey:

If you don't belong to the National Space Society, take advantage of the free download of the spring issue of Ad Astra, the NSS quarterly magazine: Ad Astra magazine ONLINE (a special, limited, one-time "engagement")! - National Space Society Blog - Sept.4.09.

ROCKETS Magazine, August 2009

Well, that was quick, eh? First, it turns out the rechargable trimmer was quick and easy to assemble, charge and use. Second, I haven't actually read the whole magazine. But, here goes anyway.

I'll start by saying that I'm thankful for the photography in this magazine. 54 of the 63 pages are dedicated to LDRS-28 coverage. That's a lot of flight report! Without photos it might take me until LDRS-29 to wade through this mega-report. As usual, the all-color photographs are great.

The main thing I am enjoying other than the photos is people I know being mentioned. And, since MDRA played a major role in this launch, there are a greater than normal number of people I know. Dave Weber, Neil McGilvray, Bob Utley, Dave Olson, Kathy Gilliand, Al Gloer, David Chance, Vinnie Lobo...I'm sure I've missed someone from the 1st three days of flying.

Some facts and photos I liked include:

• The parking was engineered...by Dave W. who is a civil engineer.
• Farm hands can also be 'rocketeers'. The farm manager Rick Hall brought a fleet of tractors to help fliers arriving on Day 1 to navigate the mud-bowl. He also had an all day hay wagon taxi service. That's above and beyond the call of duty!
  
• Rick is a champion tractor puller.
  
• They have the normal stats - number of fliers, NS burned, motors burned, etc. The also claim the average pounds of mud each person took home with them - 14.9 lbs. LOL.
• The first rocket depicted on day 1 was Al connecting the leads to his Little Lunar Express.
  
• I like photos of sparky motors and CATO's :)
• There's a great shot of Boris Katan's Hot Rod Nitro on 13 'main' motors and an additional 6 in the air started parasite rockets.
  
• I also like odd-rocs - a flying ice cream cone, a space man, and even a decoy duck. :)
• There's a spectacular photo of David C's Black 5 CATO and a good shot of his more successful Buttercup.
• Plenty of coverage was given to the low power flights. I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I see people who fly 'M' and bigger motors enjoy a nice low power flight.
• On the 1st 3 days (at least), 'G' motors were the most flown.
• LDRS founder Chris Pearson was flying.
  

Now I'm tired of typing and am ready to read some more.

Ooooh, 2 new rocket mags on the same day

Woohoo, I got both the Sept/Oct Sport Rocketry (with NSL coverage) and the Aug ROCKETS Magazine (LDRS 28 issue) today. Reading and blog posting to ensue. But now I have to fiddle with my new Craftsman rechargable electric line trimmer. (I may end up regretting getting a rechargable, but I'm fed up with gas and can't stand having to use a cord. So, time will tell.)

Good article on 'breakthrough' propulsion

Air and Space magazine features a really good article on advanced propulsion - Mars, and Step on It. Wormholes, warp drive, and space-time waves, oh my. And more realistically, VASIMR and the like.

Astronaut Karen Nyberg

Astronaut Karen Nyberg, originally uploaded by Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee.

Note that the Flickr stream that this and my previous post came from is packed with great photos (link below the photos). Her hair looks like it was out of the movie Max Max, Beyond Thunderdome.

STS-114 Space Shuttle Discovery Performs Back Flip For Photography

STS-114 Space Shuttle Discovery Performs Back Flip For Photography, originally uploaded by Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee.

I know 'up' doesn't mean much in orbit and any photo editor could recreate this view, but I found this perspective cool anyway.

"Building slump continues," continued

You'd think that, out of all these, I'd be able to find something to work on. Maybe I need to take a cue from Don and Ken and see if there is some existing rocket that I can rebuild/modify/bash/cannibalize).

Kits sitting gathering dust:

• Model Minutes Leduc-22 (no motivation, yet)
  
• Fat Boy (waiting for a kitbash idea)
• Estes SS1 (have a couple of ideas, but none have stuck)
  
• A few Art Applewhite 13mm Qubits (been there, done that)
  
• Convair XFY-1 "Pogo" (Lindberg plastic, in case my built model bites the dust)

Scratch in process

• 8" MLAS (waiting for clear square tubing for fin extensions)
• Whirlygig 38mm (stalled, too heavy to tumble, too complicated for electronics; ie don't want to risk my electroncs)
  
• Unnamed BT101 model (nose cone complete, the rest is stalled)

Quote for today

Anything is easy if you don't know what you're talking about. (author unknown)

Now, tell me you can't think of an example of where this applies.

Building slump continues

My building motivation has continued to dwindle. The MLAS is still stalled. I haven't found a local, cheap source of the clear square tubing and haven't decided on a 'plan b'. My BT-101 design has also not materialized. I like the cone I built but don't know what to build under it. Today my wife went to play bridge and I lumbered down into the Dungeon. After wandering around aimlessly, I worked out a little and came back up having made no rocket progress.

Night Nurse...or rocket girl?

Night Nurse, originally uploaded by Nad.

Don't know what this one is but, like I've said before, if it has a nose cone and fins/wings, it's close enough for me!

The munition these are based on isn't a rocket either!

Extreme Rocketry has perished

It looks like the economy has again taken it's toll. This notice appears on its web site:

Extreme Rocketry Closes Doors After 84 Issues

The September-October #84 Issue has been mailed to subscribers and retail locations. It is the last issue of Extreme Rocketry to be produced by RocketeerMedia.

Owner Brent McNeely stated, "It is with deep regret that I have been forced to close down my business. This decision was very painful for me to make--one I have struggled and lost much sleep over. However, at the strong encouragement of business consultants, and in the face of the harsh economic conditions this last year, I have been forced to face the reality that ER cannot continue. I am proud to have produced 84 issues of ER over the last nine years. I have put my heart and soul into each-and-every issue. I am pleased to have interviewed so many individuals who were responsible for building our rocket community. I love this publication and its loyal readers who have continually written and encouraged me over the years. You are simply amazing people. Thank you so much for your support and allowing me the opportunity to put my love for rocketry in a magazine. I hope you will cherish the issues you’ve received and have fond memories of Extreme Rocketry magazine during its brief existence in this world."

A letter to subscribers explaining the business closure has been included in the recent mailing.

I have to admit that I dropped my subscription in favor of ROCKETS and LAUNCH, which I also later dropped. Unfortunately, my rocket budget has been squeezed as well. I guess it is looking like an affiliation with a national organization, NAR (Sport Rocketry) or TRA (ROCKETS), is a necessary condition in today's economy. I hope it is also a sufficient condition.