MLAS aerodynamics appears in the Nozzle Exit

The Nozzle Exit blog describes how the Cp of the actual MLAS was determined, how the Cp of his micro-MLAS model was determined, and why model rocketeers buy sim programs instead of wind tunnels.

V-2 status (and nuttin' else)

It was raining so no additional painting happened.  So, I took a photo.

Iridium's NEXT satellites to carry science payloads

Iridium's next generation of satellites will increase the available data rate on their system to over 1 Mbps and will utilize IP protocols vs. the current voice-based format.  They will also allocate space and power to science payloads, which would most likely used by Earth resources applications.  Although the resources will be small, around 50 kilograms and 50 watts, and their orbits aren't optimized for science applications, this is a first.  It will be interesting to see who flies what on them. (via IEEE Spectrum)

V-2 status (and other stuff)

Well, a little sanding and a re-coat did the trick.  Trying to sand the base of the cone actually lifted all the primer.  I sanded the exposed areas good before the re-priming.  My dilemma is how to proceed to apply the other colors.  I did a good job (IMO) on the free-form camouflage for the AquaBottleBat and El Tubo Loco.  But I'm not sure how this will work out on a smaller rocket.  I'm wondering if I should make masks with some random shaped holes and hold these an inch or so from the rocket as I spray?

I'm also putting the final touches on the stretched Nike Smoke.  Needs paint and a shock cord.

I hate raking leaves and hate raking pine needles even more.  But I love turkey sandwiches and pie so today hasn't been that bad :)  I was going to photograph the primed V-2 but don't want to drag my carcass down into the Dungeon.

I read the instructions for the Delta X-15 and decided I'll save this for the next building session.  Note to self: scrub the crap out of that resin cone. Again.

Nike Smoke cone work (and other stuff)

After two days of eating and visiting with family, I ventured back down to the Dungeon.  First up was priming my Hostile Projectiles V2.  I chose Rustoleum red-brown primer since it would not only prime but serve as one of the colors in my planned cammo pattern.  Well, one instruction I thought that I had heeded was to scrub the nose and tail cone with steel wool to get the mold release off. I scrubbed until I thought it would be good...and then scrubbed some more.  It appears I was not uniform in this process because spots formed on one quadrant of the tail cone and around the base of the nose cone.  I let it dry well, sanded and have re-coated.  I probably should strip it and try a Dremel brush on it...nah...just press on. I've recovered from this condition before and can strip two layers as easily as one if it doesn't work.   I'll report back tomorrow.

Then I decided I might as well touch-up the MLAS cone after its mud bath.  I coated the whole thing with Future and put three coats on the cone.  Here, the brush on paint still doesn't look that good, but is shinier.

And to the star of this show...my attempt to make a functional Nike Smoke cone.  That is, one that will spew tracking powder as it boosts.  You can see the guts in the photo.  An Estes lug in the tip will feed air into the First Fire igniter tube.  The holes in theis tube will then hopefully blow the powder out a vent, which isn't cut yet.  I found that a plastic cap donated by Warthog (aka Don B) that fits almost perfectly in the shoulder.  The vent will be on the short transition section just above the plastic insert. The ear plug protruding from the end will be replaced with a plug that extends to the bottom of the lower hole.

I plan to add the tracking powder with the cone separated  It will be held together with tape for its test flight.  If it works, I may glue the two halves together and fill it from the tube that protrudes out the back.  But that's a BIG IF.

Black Friday

When Black Friday comes
I'll stand down by the door
And catch the gray men
When they dive from the fourteenth floor
When Black Friday comes
I'll collect everything I'm owed
And before my friends find out
I'll be on the road
When Black Friday falls you know it's got to be
Don't let it fall on me

No point, I just like Steely Dan.

Dark matter propulsion

OK, if black hole propulsion wasn't enough, now we have dark matter propulsion - Dark power: Grand designs for interstellar travel, Marcus Chown, New Scientist, 25 November 2009.  (According to the article, this proposal predated the one on black hole propulsion.)  Unfortunately, physicists don't really know what dark matter is and not all even agree it exists.  But if it does as many believe, there is plenty of it.  Thus, the propulsion system could scoop up its fuel as it goes. The article of course goes into much more detail and even presents a nice simple diagram of how dark matter and black hole propulsion would work.

Mach diamonds

Click, then zoom and check out the mach diamonds on the Long March:

Hostile Projectiles update

Here is the V-2, flight ready and waiting for primer.  I ended up laminating the fins with paper since I couldn't get the fin template off the balsa.  The instructions have you attach the template with 3M Super 77 spray glue and methinks I went a tad heavy on it.  I was worried that the method of embossing the fin panel lines wouldn't work...but it did.  This technique requires some practice as my panel lines are not anywhere near of uniform depth.

I meant to add nose wight to get it balanced for up to AT D24 reloads.  After a couple of brain farts I found I added too much nose weight and a flight on a C6 is very iffy - anyone got a 100" 1/8" rod?  So, it will now fly on D13's and D24's.

While on the subject of screw-ups, I managed to totally melt the decals for the Delta X-15 with a coat of Future.  The instructions told me to use a specific decal product, but I tried the Future.  If the model flies well, I guess I'll see if Steve will sell me a new set get some decal paper and print a new set using the file provided with the instructions.

Solar tsunami!

Maryland Weather has a couple of interesting animated gif's of a solar storm "of hot plasma that is 62,000 miles high, travels at half a million miles per hour and packs the power of 2,400 megatons of TNT."  I'm impressed. These were generated from images from NASA's STEREO spacecraft.

New details on the X-37B

Spaceflight Now has some new details on the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and its pending flight atop an Atlas5/501.  It is scheduled to fly from the Cape Canaveral in April 2010. (via Clark Lindsey)

Bow to my power (Red Glare 7 update)

Earlier today, I lamented the lack of photographic evidence from Red Glare 7.  It looks like I jumped the gun.  I'm sure my post had no role in facilitating the update....or did it...

I felt I could lament the issue but I can't complain since my photos and one video are here.

Rocket magazine's album is also up (at least for Sunday).

Blue Origin quietly marches forward

Clark Lindsey reports that Blue Origin has selected four research payloads for their New Shepard suborbital vehicle.

Pushing Reg Glare 7 off the queue

What I mean by that is that the first post today will push my Red Glare 7 flight report off my top page (it is obviously still there, but visitors will have to look for it).  I was hoping to replace it with a post that pointed to the MDRA photo gallery.  Unfortunately, the web site hasn't been updated.

(It is obviously a slow day....)

Breaking news: the Dungeon is bombarded by Hostile Projectiles

While I was gone for the weekend, my order from Hostile Projectiles arrived!  I got both the V-2 and the Delta X-15.  Here are my initial impressions. 

I'll start with the reason I ordered them - the V-2's nose and tail cones and the cone for the X-15.  These are not your daddy's resin cones. They are thin walled and I bet not much heavier than solid balsa (if at all).  The initial flight reports are that they are also tough. Steve really knows how to cast parts!  The detail is really makes them stand out.  You should be able to click the thumbnail to see some of it.  The finish is great and the only flaws are two small voids on one V-2 fin flaring.

These are very obviously 'builders kits'.  There is no header card or print instructions.  The latter comes on CD.  The parts are fairly typical and I didn't bother photographing them.  The tubes are not a cleanly cut as, my 'meter stick' vendor (e.g. Semroc),  there are no laser cut fins, and the chute is plain plastic.  Nevertheless, these will be fun and I'm sure will look and fly great.  Building should commence on the V-2 tomorrow.

More on Woody Hoburg's guided monocopter

In a comment to an earlier post, Woody notes that he now has a website on his guided monocopter project. I don't know if I previously credited James Houghton as his partner on the project (but I did now). From that, site you can access his research paper and videos of the monocopter in action.

A compendium of rocket eye candy

Clark Lindsey provides links to two posts on the Daily Kos - Part 1 includes photos and videos of operational rockets and part 2 is dedicated to experimental vehicles.  The split is not 100% consistent, but close enough.

Multi-position launch controller (plans)

Make Magazine, Vol 20 includes plans for a 10-Rail Model Rocket Mega-Launcher.  The link includes a slide show and the schematic.

I'm glad someone else noticed this because my subscription expired with the prior issue.  Go figure.  In prior years they renewed my subscription without asking.  This year, they didn't bother sending an email saying it was expiring.  That's just a well I guess.  While it was mildly interesting to thumb through every issue, there were only a handful of articles that I found really great or useful.  And, most of those filter onto their web site sooner than later.  In this case, sooner.

Odd-crocs

Nope, the title isn't a typo.  This post is actually about crocs, not rocs -  National Geographic animates four Strange Crocs of the Sahara.

Long Q2G2 igniters are shipping

Quest just announced the new 8" Q2G2 igniters are now shipping.  This past weekend, I received first hand confirmation that the original short lead Q2G2s will ignite smaller AeroTech Hobbyline composites.  It will be interesting to see how these longer ones will do on the larger Hobbyline motors.  They are $1.33 a-pop before shipping and come in packs of 6.  Currently AeroTech's FirstFire Jr's are $1.63 on the ValueRockets site.  I will probably order a couple packs on top of my next order.  Since these are low current, they will also work well with electronics.

http://www.questaerospace.com/itemd...ic=7025&eq=&Tp=

Smoking Nike Smoke nose cone - cont'd

Here's how the Enerjet Nike Smoke cone worked. --^

I removed the tip of the Quest cone and reamed it so an Estes launch lug will fit.  I will adapt the lug to a slightly larger tube to recreate the Enerjet design. Questions remain on how many vent holes, how big they should be and how the powder will be loaded.  (It looks like the diagram answers  my first question.)

Smoking Nike Smoke nose cone

Along with my MLAS kits, I picked up a couple of Nike Smoke cones and some T35 tubing.  Rokitflite gave me some fin cans a while back and I finally decided to get some compatible parts.

The purpose of the Nike Smoke system was to visually test upper atmospheric winds.  Its nose cone was filled with various chemicals (titanium tetrachloride in the final operational version), which would produce a visible trail when released.   During powered flight, an inlet pipe in the tip of the cone would force the TiCl4 out ports in its base.  The resulting trails were visible to 75,000 ft.

I just remembered stories about a 'vintage' Enerjet kit with a working nose cone and the gears began turning.  The required holes will of course be easy to drill.  I'm thinking about adding and internal cone to make sure the vented air is forced toward the exit ports.  I'll also have to think about how to load the tracking powder as all the added holes should be fairly small.

This will also free up one of the plastic tips that was missing/lost when I built my Quest Smoke.  In fact, the glue is drying as I type.

Red Glare 7 rocket girl

Erin with her first rocket - Oh Frabcious Day, originally uploaded by dcrocketeer.

Semi-Sonic on EMRR

Nick has been up to his ears in alligators but snuck in an update anyway. It includes my review of First Flight Hobbies' Semi-Sonic.

Entries for EMRR's 2009 Spaceship Design Contest are posted

HERE

Monday stuff

1. Watched Atlantis STS-129 launch on NASA TV.  

2. As best I could, I recreated the MLAS nose weight that I used on-site and weighed it.  It came up to 0.3 oz..   I found an unused washer from my second Semroc V-2 and a couple of thinner ones that added to the right amount. Ready for another flight test on an Estes C6-5.

3. De-mudded the SUV.  I've left almost no evidence of how much fun I had at Red Glare 7 ;)

4.  After the failure of my Misguided Saucer (used fluorescent light grids instead of  solid plates), I've scrapped plans for a grid fin rocket.  It could be it just wasn't moving fast enough for the grid to work but, meh.

More on the UMD's samara monocopter

Here are a couple of cool video describing the small controllable monocopter developed by Evan Ulrich and a few others at the University of Maryland, Aerospace Engineering Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory and Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center (now, that's a mouthful). The first includes dizzying on-board video.  (seen via IEEE Spectrum) (see also my previous post on this)

Launch Report 2009-8 (Red Glare 7)

Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD (Red Glare VII)
Weather: mid to high 60's, light breeze, clear
Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 72
Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 87

The remnants of Hurricane Ike Ida had disrupted Red Glare 7.  Friday was a wash-out, literally, and Saturday was soggy with a low cloud ceiling. (I wasn't in attendance.) But today, Sunday, was fantastic.  To get to the flight line you had to navigate the swamp that was the parking access road.  But once through, there was some reasonably dry parking.  Still, there were plenty of stuck vehicles.  I was directed to a saved spot by Paul and camped with to Don, Richard, and Mike. Jim and Scott also came.  The field itself wasn't bad and I didn't encounter any puddles.

The launch pads were busy, from low power through the away cells.  There were plenty of 'M' flights and at least one 'N'.  Two that stuck out were Dan Michael's 1/3 scale Honest John, which flew on three 'M's and included four G80 spin motors, and a hybrid M that only went to about 50' and then lawn darted spectacularly.  My OurPlanet album (embedded below) includes both.  There was also the Paul Robinson Memorial sparky-motor drag race. 16-20 racers were advertised but I don't know how many actually went. The two 'M's on the away cells flew later due to operator error.

I also helped out on Team Starfigher. Don flew his upscale of the LOC Starfighter on a central red 'K' and  two smoky 'I's for a cool flight.  It was nearly the last launch of the day and the sun was down during recovery ops.  I took the launch shot on 'sunset' mode so the red plume is really red.

My Flights (out of order):

1. Raygun Gothic Birdhouse on an F39-5 - The boost was decent.  Ejection was a bit late and the shock cords for the nose and body tangled.  However, both 'chutes opened and the recovery was good.
   
2. Raygun Gothic HoJo on four D12-5's - The boost was anemic and ejection was late.  Nevertheless, it recovered fine. This really needs composites.
   
3. Quest MLAS on a Quest B6-4 - The rocket went to about 20', arced over, and lawn darted.  The cone got muddy but somehow the soft foam nose wasn't dented, the thin body tube was just fine, and all 8 fins stayed on!
4. Quest MLAS on an Estes C6-5 - I jury-rigged the nose weight and stuffed in a C6-5.  It flew nicely with some weather cocking.  I really should have recorded the actual CG of this configuration since the weight was lost at ejection.  I'll have to recreate it in the Dungeon and try to add the same amount permanently.
   
5. Hat of Death on a G20 - The long boost started well, it pin wheeled a couple of times, and then it continued on its merry way.  This was its 50th flight and the first non-clustered flight that wasn't perfect.
6. Art Applewhite Texas Special Saucer on an I49 - This was a cool long burn but it weather cocked like mad.  This motor is cooler when the boost is over your head.
   
7. Misguided saucer on a D11-P - FAIL - it lived up to its name.
   

Find more photos like this on Our Planet



Find more videos like this on Our Planet

It looks like there IS significant water on the Moon

NASA just reported that LCROSS detected a large amount of water in the ejected plume.  The 20m crater ejected yielded ~100kg of water along with other interesting stuff, including organics. Not surprisingly, this is causing a lot of excitement in the space community. So maybe the Moon is such a boring place after all, eh?  The Google Lunar X-prize folks also hope this will increase the activity in their private race back to the moon.  I didn't know it, but there is a Water Detection Bonus for the teams that confirm the presence of water. Sounds like easy money to me :rolleyes:

Sorry for the crack, I really do think this is awesome.  Makes ALICE even more interesting too.

Clark Lindsey is gathering info and links:

• LCROSS data shows large amounts of water
• LCROSS and GLXP
• More LCROSS
• (yet) More LCROSS Discussions
  

Phil Plait has a good post on this find too.

Launch vehicle reliability resources

I lifted these links from a post on YORF by an actual NASA rocket scientist:

Here are some links for those interested in this kind of thing. Pretty good summary of launch vehicle failure statistics here ....

http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/reliability2009.txt

This is an Aerospace article discussing launch vehicle reliability ....

http://www.aero.org/publications/cr...ter2001/03.html

This one, done by the FAA for Reusable Launch Vehicles, offers some insight into the methodologies used to do analyses like these ....

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...Analysis_v1.pdf

I haven't looked at these myself but wanted to capture them anyway.  One thing he pointed out is that the biggest factor in mission risk is space junk, which is tough to mitigate by any launch vehicle.

Red Glare 7 is off and running...I guess

Only got home late last night and had no time to stage my rockets and rocket-related accessories.  With the remnants of Ida stalled overhead, the forecast today is 90% chance of rain and winds 15 - 25 mph, so I'm bagging it today.  I'll lug stuff up from the Dungeon today and watch the weather.  Worst case, Sunday is s'posed to be clearer, drier and warmer.

Interesting fantasy-scale PMC

The Apollo 27 Rocket.  I don't know 100% if Pegasus is the manufacturer but you can also get it from Historic Aviation, which is my preferred plastic model source.

Narrowing down the MLAS #2

Well, both the 24mm and 4x18mm options will require no more than 3 oz additional nose weight and would reach respectable altitudes.  I'm inclined not to go crazier as I am liking hiking less and less.

What to do with MLAS numero dos?

I've been away from the Dungeon and my rockets, but have been pondering what to do with my Quest MLAS #2.  All options will include a lightly glassed cone to make it sturdier and easier to finish.  Maybe a glassed body also.  And a hollow shoulder for an inch more 'chute space.

Option #1 - a 4 x18mm cluster - This will keep the spacing of the motor mount. But after glassing a nose weight, will I be happy with 24n avg. impulse?

Option #2 - a single 24mm -  This will keep the motor spacing and let me go to 39 N avg. impulse using the 24/40 case.

Option #3 - stuff in a 29mm mount - Glass everything and add a lot of lead.  The cute will have to reside beside the mount.

Option #4 - Your guess is as good as mine.

I think I'll paint a V-2-like roll pattern or make it all black with pirate decals.

Airframe woes in The Nozzle Exit

The latest post on the Nozzle Exit talks about the airframe for both the model and the real thing:

Balsa was used for the core instead of foam in locations where loading dictated (seemed strange to build real flight hardware out of traditional modeling materials - foam and balsa - but there we were).

Yes, that snippet applies to the real thing.

Mythbustin' the first manned rocket flight

I hear the Mythbusters will be investigating Lagari Hasan Celebi who legend says made the first successful manned rocket flight.  The Chinese Emperor who flew in a rocket chair was probably earlier...but wasn't successful.  My prediction is that the Mythbuster's crash test dummy had a bad day. Anyway it works out, The Mythbusters + rockets = good fun.

Soviet Megaplane v. Nazi UFO (concept art)

As seen on IO9.  The megaplane is based on the Kalinin K-7, which I have previously posted about (note *).  As for the Nazi UFO, I refer you to Google.

* Yes, I still realize that this wasn't an ekranoplan, but I'm going to continue to mis-label it.

Sport Rocketry Nov/Dec 2009

This is the NARAM 51 edition and my main feeling after thumbing through it is...I wish I had attended!  The coverage is typical to past NARAMs and includes plenty of photos.  It started well with the cover showing a nice closeup of Chas Russell showing off the Pod Bay Door's Sci-Fi-Future Scale Saturn IB MLV-11.5.  I had taken note of this model on NARAM Live! but didn't know much about it.

Other NARAM stuff I took note of included: a large photo of Kevin Johnson with his sexy Valkyrie; Scott Branche's cool R/C Centuri Mach 10 upscale; night launch photos; rocket girl egg-lofters; close up photo and details on Mark Chrumka's MLAS, which won in C-Div Peanut Scale; many other Peanut Scale entries; NARHAMS #139 takes 4th in the national standings; and the 3-page photo montage (Paul Miller made it in 2 photos).  What is missing is coverage of the "rockets beyond strange" event.

Other major features include coverage of the cool Interceptor-M that flew at Plaster Blaster 2008 (videos are here) and Ed Miller's article on spray-on carbon fiber.  The latter is for looks not strength and, man, does Ed make it look good!

Missile-aneous stuff of interest: ad for the Quest MLAS; new night launch "Phantom" kit by Leading Edge Rocketry; a Santa Sleigh rocket in The CATO Chronicles.

Colonial Viper at Plaster Blaster

Now, this is a purty picture! (should be Verna and Randy's next photo of the month)



Photo by kbaird; Title may be incorrect as I thought this was last weekend's launch and the photo data says it was taken then. Cool no matter when it was taken!

Quest MLAS - looking good from 10'

I added two photos of the final product to my OurPlanet album. Not unexpectedly, this is another RTLGF10F (rocket that looks good from 10 ft). The brush-on acrylic paint on the cone looks a tad funky and I proven once again that if there is a way to mess up decals, I can find it. Still, I'm happy with it :) God willing, I'll fly it at Red Glare VII this coming weekend.


Find more photos like this on Our Planet

Masten's 'Xoie-II' to study the "ignorosphere"

Aviation Week reports on Masten's plans for their NGLLC prize money.  These plans include adding an aeroshell (for aerodynamic performance and to support reentry) and a new 2,500 lbF engine (vs Xoie's 750 lb).  They are marketing this capability to lift 50 lb payload's to "what Masten calls the "ignorosphere" - the region of the upper atmosphere between about 100,000 feet and 100 kilometers (60 miles) that is difficult to study with balloons and satellites." They say their fast turnaround capability will have added benefits to the scientific study of that region.


They also want to market their systems development methodology, which is more similar to software methodologies than hardware.  As en ex-hardware/systems/managerial type, I'd like to read a formal document on how they do business.  But, if they're selling the capability, I doubt if that will be readily available.

(via NGLLC2009 on Twitter)

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 1/3 scale X-15 at Plaster Blaster - RIP

Find out more about this totally awesome but ill-fated project on TRF.

Loudmouths are coming to a launch near you

And, I'm not talking about select members from the rocketry forums :)

I see from their Facebook news feed that AeroTech successfully tested a K345LM 'Loudmouth' yesterday at Plaster Blaster.  The Loudmouth reportedly sounds like a "sparky without the sparks."

They also flew the J99N endburner, K375NW boost-sustain, and J320WS Super White. Lots of new motor types are on the way. Now, how many of these are going to migrate down to mid-power? {Well, I see someone asked this about the Loudmouth and the answer was, "possibly."  That's better than 'no'!}

Run for the hills, The Saucer Fleet has landed!

I just received my copy of ARA Press' The Saucer Fleet, which I won for taking 3rd place in EMRR's Rocket family photo contest.  I loved their Spaceship Handbook and I love saucers, so I was looking forward to this one.  My deepest thanks to Jack Haggerty for sponsoring the contest, Nick Esselman for honchoing it and of course those who thought my Fireball XL5 family was worthy.

Quest MLAS - stability

My MLAS, prior to paint, comes in at 3oz. I measured the actual CG and set the overrides. I haven't tried to apply a 'phantom' cone to account for base drag. With a B6, the margin drops to 0.32. With a C6, it drops to 0.26. It's almost hard to believe that CG shift of a mere 0.2 inches will result in instability, but I guess there is always a tipping point. Time will tell if it is stable at all. But, I'm going to trust the manufacturer for the initial B6 flight. According to the sim, a B6-4 is about right and even with the sim being optimistic, a -4 is probably as good as a -2.

"Kari likes big guns"...'nuff said

Click through to see the clear original.

Quest MLAS - more status and opinions

Find more photos like this on Our Planet


Here are a few photos. I am applying the fillets and later today will prep the cone. Paint will wait until tomorrow when my 50%-off coupons at Michael's kick in. I won't save much, but it might pat for the gas to get there.

I added the ruler to the body-only shot. As you can see, there is only 3" available minus about one inch for the shoulder. This means I can't manhandle the 'chute packing like normal.

Quest MLAS - status and initial opinions

I started the build during TV commercials this evening.   I built and installed the motor mount, built the nose cone assembly less the recovery harness, filled the fins, and began installing them.  So far this has all been fairly straightforward and I'm not sure I'd rate this skill level three.  But no matter.  It's a fun LPR build and, despite it being a stand-off sport scale representation, I think it is looking pretty cool.  I also built the three plastic 'chutes, 2 of which will bring down the nose and one the body.  Prepping and packing these might be the biggest challenge.  They will really be right on top of the ejection charge.

Some time tomorrow I'll be ready for paint.  The instructions say you need foam-safe white and black spray paint. Being a non-conformist, I'm thinking about spraying the lower body with plain old non-foam-safe paint.  For the fins, methinks I'll use brush-on testors.  For the cone, I may just buy some acrylic brush-on at Michaels. 

I've also been thinking about bigger-than-recommended motors.  The nose weight is  a lag bolt and it screws in fairly tightly.  For the next version, I'll upgrade/replace this bolt.  I am flip-flopping between leaving this on for the recommended B6's and kludging up a quick and dirty way to add weight to allow a 'C' flight.  Decision, decisions.

Quest MLAS - RECEIVED!

My two MLAS kits and a few other parts just arrived.  Not bad for a Monday morning order.  My one annoyance is that we are at the end of the UPS route so, even though my package was out for delivery at 6AM, it was 6PM before it arrived.

The kit looks cool, I like its stubbyness and foam cone. It has a medium sized lag bolt that fits in the cone's tip - ya' knew a fair amount of nose weight would be required.  This will provide a reasonable point to attach even more weight for the upgraded motor mount version.  On quick glance, the build looks fairly straightforward. It will require an above average amount of masking on the angled surfaces of the cone and some foam safe paint.  The three 'chutes may make recovery a bit more challenging as the opportunity for 'chute tangling is also above average.  Should be fun!

Concept art for Virgin's LauncherOne (updated)

ParobolicArc posts a couple of concept drawings for Virgin Galactic's recently announced foray into the world of small satellite launching.  The first has a cruise missile look to it and the second is more SpaceShipOne-like.  Given the differences and the quality of the drawings I am wondering if these came from graphic artists or rocket/space craft designers.  This seems a natural and obvious use of their White Knight II.  The White Knight I has already been adapted to hold the X-37B for drop tests of the latter.  It will be interesting to see how their plans unfold.

Update:  Clark Lindsey reports Virgin has seven space science customers signed up.

Armadillo wants to take you higher

Videos of Armadillos latest flight to 2959 ft (902 m) have made it to YouTube. I like the new pointy look! (spotted by Clark Lindsey, who has another one too)

Ares I-Y schedule says a lot

No 5-segment SRB flight test until 2012. (via the Flame Trench).

Everything most of us want to know about VASIMR

A case of a picture being worth 1000 words via the New York Times and R2K

Unreasonable feature on the Discovery Channel (Canada)

Paul Breed notes that "We were on the daily planet show on the discovery channel in Canada last night. You can see the show here"

Bloodhound SSC motor update

Rocketeers.co.uk has an update on the development of the hybrid rocket motor for the Bloodhound SSC supersonic rocket car.  The blogger expresses his/her "bitterly disappointed that we're spending money and effort on building a one-shot stunt car, instead of useful vehicles...".   I had never really thought of it, but I understand the point.  But I guess one might say the same thing about anyone that puts in a ton of money or effort into a pastime, albeit generally at less cost.  Then, with sponsorship and endorsements the Bloodhound SSC might be positioned to make money.  If so, I guess it's no different than an investment in any company.  If they make a good motor maybe that can spin it off to someone for more lofty goals. (Haha, I made a pun.)

In the Nozzle Exit

The Nozzle Exit is a new blog from sport rocketeer and NASA MLAS team member Tim Wilson.  So far it features info on his original "µMLAS" model, and of course info on the real thing.   I'm following it so updates should appear in my sidebar.

NASM to offer free teleconferences

You can read all the details on their site, but here's a summary of the first one:

The National Air and Space Museum is holding its first ever virtual conference for educators on Tuesday, November 10 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST.   Since we’re in the middle of the 40^th anniversary commemorations of the Apollo missions, we decided to focus on this important period in American history.  Staff from our Division of Space History will discuss some fascinating topics such as the real story behind President Kennedy’s famous speech challenging Congress to send Americans to the Moon;  the role of computers—a new technology in the 1960s; the myth of presidential leadership during this time period; the intersections of Ralph Abernathy, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Moon landing; the rise of six iconic Apollo images and how they have been used over time; and the denials of the Moon landings by a small segment of the population and their evolution since the 1960s.  They will also explain the complexity behind the Saturn Rocket, the Command, Service, and Lunar Modules and the technique of Lunar-Orbital Rendezvous.   Museum educators will provide tips for helping students analyze primary source materials. The program will support the NASA History Advanced Placement and Human Geography Advanced Placement projects and is generously funded by NASA.

Awesome aerial footage of the Ares I-X launch

An aerial video crew observed the October 28, 2009 Ares I-X test flight from a Cessna Skymaster aircraft positioned approx. 10 nautical miles away from the vehicle at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The videographer used a gyro-stabilized high-definition camera system mounted to the outside of the aircraft to capture this spectacular footage which provides extremely valuable engineering data, and imagery of the recovery sequence in rarely-seen detail. Ares I-X is the first flight test of the Constellation Program and provides NASA an early opportunity to gather critical data during vehicle ascent and during booster deceleration and recovery. For more info:www.nasa.gov/ares

Quest MLAS - on order (updated...again)

As promised, the Quest Aerospace MLAS became available today. This sport scale kit is 3.5" in diameter, 9" long, uses a foam cone, and recovers on three 'chutes.  I ordered two, one to build stock and one to add a bigger mount.  The stock kit has only one recommended motor, the B6-4. This should make a nice demo flier on smaller fields. I'll survey the kit and will upgrade the other to at least 24mm...or maybe a cluster...or maybe...

While I wuz at it, I got some T35 tubes and a couple of Nike Smoke cones.  A fellow TRFer gave me a bunch of the Nike fin cans a while back and they don't seem to fit any other tube right.  I've managed to use a couple but I thought I'd use a couple for what they were meant for.   After I have an 18mm or 24mm version, maybe I'll finally put my 29mm 'Smoke up on a G SU.

Update:   The EGE commented that the B6 seemed wimpy for a model of this size.  Well at 18.5 oz, I have to agree!  I bet it is already a three motor cluster.  On another note, the order has been processed!

Update #2:   Ken K. comments that the indicated weight is the shipping weight, and that makes sense.  Shrox has commented on the forums that the B6-2 is also on the rec motors list (site not updated).  No response about why the C6 isn't recommended.  It will fly on a C6, oh yes, it will.  Maybe flight #2. I may also make a provision to add some weight so a D reload can be in its future also. I hope to have this ready for Red Glare VII.  BTW, I've upped the odds of my attending to about 75%.

Update #3:  The printed weight may even just be a typo.  Actual is around 3 oz., per Shrox.

Unreasonable autopsy

This morning, Paul Breed gives his post-NGLLC analysis.  He is happy that he had one "94%" successful flight but laments the lack of resources - time and money.  I am amazed what a mostly-2-person team could come as far as they did.  Bravo!  In the end, it was software engineering that did them in rather than the rocket science side of the project.  That is, last minute code changes with poor CM.  Paul notes that, after 3 years of intense activity, the end of the NGLLC has left a void in his life.  He will take 6 moths to re-build his rocket fund, which I imply to mean that he will eventually fill the void with more rockets!

Ares I-X in The Big Picture

Boston.com's The Big Picture offers some of the best photo essays around.  This week, they feature the Ares I-X from cradle to grave, so to speak.

The Silver Ball is dead

On a test run for NGLLC Level-2, Unreasonable Rocket's Silver Ball oscillated around, broke its tether, fell over, and its leg punctured the tank.  My condolences to the two Paul's and their other occasional team members.  I hope they remember how far they came and not how far they had yet to go.  Clark Lindsey has more info.

November Fire and Smoke

Verna and Randy have posted their November update to their Photo of the Month and Fire and Smoke features. I always like these and Verna is good enough to ding me when they are updated.

This week's photo is of the bow shock on the Ares I-X. That one is cool indeed. Fire and Smoke features my Raygun Gothic HoJo (blushing) and, more importantly, discusses waivers, NOTAMs and low fly overs.  Anyone who frequents launches that have had waivers or notifications filed is used to seeing small aircraft circling and passing by.  This results in a delay in launch operations and subsequent griping about the so-and-so pilots not heeding their NOTAMs.  It is commonly believed that the NOTAM is what draws the curious pilots to the area just to see what's going on.  Most don't actually fly over, but sport rocketeers hold for any plane in the immediate area.  Now, I learn something new about NOTAMs - that they don't grant us exclusive rights to the airspace above us.  I thought we held our flights because common sense and our safety codes say we hold for aircraft in any event.  But it appears the pilots do have a right to the space after all.  You can pop over and read more, including cites from the FAA regs. 

Lander videos galore

No word on what's up with Unreasonable Rocket's level-2 attempt, but the web yielded several videos of past lander flights by UR and others. Here is a downward looking video from Unreasonable Rocket's NGLLC Level-1 run. Via Ben Brockert's YouTube channel.



And Armadillo isn't sitting on their thumbs. Clark Lindsey found this video of their 200m 'hop' flight. He also points to a .wmv of a flight to over $1K'.