BOOBS 19

BOOBS 19, originally uploaded by jurvetson.

"Nuff said!

A nuclear powered winter project

How about a paper and foam Project Orion Battleship (the bigger one in the attached photo)?  A diameter of 12" results in an overall length of around 35".  Since I have no self-imposed requirement to fly on 29mm motors, I guess I'd go for a 38mm mount.  This will take a lot more planning, including a source of the tubes to form the 12 'shock absorbers'.  It would probably have a 4" inner tube just like the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned.  This would also let me re-use the cone from the Grand Whazoo (about the only surviving part).  As for fins, I think I'll try slide-in units that fit in 4 of the piston tubes.

Brain swimming...I wonder if a big wire spool would have a use in this thing?  Could I make the pistons functional?  What then to do about the motor tube?

Yes, this will take some head scratching and scrounging.

I rate the chances of me actually building this as...well...just enough to warrant its own tag.

It ain't heavy, it's my Hermes

Final tweaks were made to the RockSim model and lead was measured out.  I swapped the stock screw eye for a small eyebolt so will be securely buried in the lead/epoxy slurry. It weighs 3 oz without motor.  Guaranteed to shred it's plastic 'chute. RockSim says a C6-5 will work, a B6-4 might be OK with a long rod, but forget the A8 unless you fly out of your long HPR tower. (Yes, LPR has been flown from the away cell at MDRA.)

More on Starship scaling...starting with the Space Shuttle

In an earlier post, I commented on Scott Lowther's post entitled Giant's in the Sky, Part 2.  I have been snoozing because I missed Part 1.  In Part 1, he starts with the Space Shuttle and proceeds to 'the smallest practical Orion', etc.  (I guess my title shouldn't say 'more' because this post should have come first, oh well.)  Cool stuff, but still sci-fi.

Yes, California is crazy

It appears the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) says that model rocket motors can't be reloadable.  And you thought you'd never see 18mm HPR motors.  Read about it on Rocketry Planet.

(Yeah, this may not be the case but is makes for a good post.  And, Cali is still crazy, even if the RP post is an overstatement /overreaction.)

Big, bigger and biggest...starships!

Scott Lowther continues to discuss huge spaceships in his post Giants in the Sky, Part 2.  Here he starts with the Enzmann Starship, which itself would be a behemoth measuring several thousand feet long. He then increases the scale a thousand-fold, ending with spacecraft hundreds of kilometers long and capable of carrying all Earth-bound life forms to another home. The closest thing to reality in this sequence is the Project Orion nuclear pulse propulsion system (12 - 24 of which would form the drive for the Enzmann Starship!), and we know how far that got (if you don't, it's an interesting story, follow the link).  This is all interesting to me, but I'm afraid it is basically sci-fi.  I'd like to see him overlay his drawings in the Starship Dimensions hierarchy. (Excuse me if I have the dimensions wrong, I think my brain just blew-up.)

Hermes - painting (mostly) done

I have a tad of touch-up to do but it is pretty close.  For better or worse, here's a few of the techniques used.  Please feel free to suggest how I could have done better.

• I primed it then painted the white base coat.
• I masked the fins and over painted the edges to seal the tape.
• When dry, I painted the fins.
• I marked the nose cone tip by positioning a clear plastic tube and slightly scoring the white base coat.
• I sprayed Rustoleum red primer into a plastic container and, using a micro brush, followed the score mark.
• The bulk of the tip was painted with a regular brush.
• The lower stripe is 2 pieces of vinyl pin striping.
• The stripe on the cone is also vinyl tape.  I carefully scored one edge (every 1/16"-1/8") to allow it to conform to cone.  This is the first time I've done this and it seemed to work well.  There were 2 - 3 places where I touched it up with a Sharpie. 

Hermes update - not gonna beat the rain (updated)

I was going to finish the Hermes today, but it looks like it is starting to rain...and I do all my spraying outside.  The first primer coat is drying and I was hoping to be able to touch sand and refill here and there before the second coat.  I'm now thinking that the white primer coat will also be the top coat.  Once I have the surface where I want it, I'll mask off the fins and nose rings and re-coat to seal the tape edges.  I'll hand paint the fins and nose sections, using Rustoleum brown primer for the tip and Testors black for the rest. The lower black stripe will be vinyl tape.

Update:  Rain stopped.  Filled the gaps and got a 2nd coat on.  Fins are nice and smooth.  Too smooth.  Gave it a coat of brush on white.  Will continue later today.

The Space Blogs list is officially history

At least here in the Dungeon.  I decided to quit worrying about what the heck is going on with the Space Blogs blogroll.  I took it out and moved the Space Feeds link to my links list (ref. the graphic shown below in my 'Featured Sites' section).  That site features a wide variety of space news, including a blog feed that is hosted outside of BlogRolling.

Big a$$ rocket of the day - Polaron G2

You know your rocket is big when you can't stand it up in your house.  I think a drag race between the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned and the Polaron G2 would be a hoot!  Read all about it here.

72,000'

Apogee1, originally uploaded by LokiNine.

This is the view at 72,000 ft., courtesy of Curt Newport's Proteus 6.5. Found via Jeff Taylor/Loki Research, who undoubtedly provided the power plant. It reportedly recovered well too, some 5+ miles away. Way to go guys! (You will be able to chat with both of them at Red Glare IX.) Click through for a launch shot and a Google Earth track.

Hermes (with un-planned fin artwork)

The Hermes is coming along well but still needs fillets, paint and nose weight.  Because the fin tabs were just glued to the end of the stock fins, I laminated them with self adhesive label stock.  I used a full page label that had been run through the printer before I realized I was out of ink.  The results are fairly interesting and, if this weren't a scale project, I'd consider leaving the fins as is.  If  you look carefully, you can see the rocket girl from my Grand Whazoo's fin art peeking out of one of the bottom fins.  The others range from solid white to various, seemingly random patterns.

Rocket girls #82

Warthog sent me an example of an alternate type of rocket girl and Google did the rest. Note: No actual rockets were fired in the making of this post.

Hermes A-1 - measure once, scale once, cut once

I went ahead and started the Hermes A-1 kitbash.  I looked back at the spreadsheet that I made to guesstimate the dimensions of the fins and decided it is good enough.  I'm sure these aren't scale competition quality since I worked with a photo on my computer screen, but I think it will look fine to the casual, non-expert observer.  The tabs added to the scale V-2 fins (as opposed to the larger, non-scale ones that are provided with the kit) are basically 0.5" square.  They are being attached as I type.  The dimensions of the upper fins, once rounded to even ruler dimensions, are: root - 2.125"; tip - 1.25"; sweep - 0.75"; and, span - 0.5".

I also have filled the balsa nose and tail cones, marked the body and tail cone for the fins and built the motor mount.  Non-stock mods include epoxying a Kevlar leader to the motor mount and adding a motor hook.  The latter required that I notch the tail cone.  Not optimal for scale looks but I wanted one.

I was looking a photos and noticed that the Hermes, like the V-2, was not smooth. So, I may just use brush on Testors for the whole build and will use short brush strokes.  I will decorate it like the one on display at White Sands (attached). The black stripe on the nose cone will be the most challenging part.  Unless I find some vinyl lettering at Michaels, I won't be adding the fin numbering!

Big a$$ rocket of the day: Miss September flying at BALLS

This is the first media that I've seen from BALLS, which is being held deep in the Black Rock Desert this weekend.  Full scale, WAC Corporal with Tiny Tim booster, both on 'P' motors, flying to around 24k'.  I want to see the off-board video!

Already antsy to launch, building is in the doldrums

A mere week after ESL-148, I'm already itching to launch.  My October launches are still up in the air and the prospects of missing them is fueling the itch.  I have NARHAMS and then Red Glare the following weekend.  I could make both, or neither.

I haven't gotten motivated to build anything at the moment.  I've been following the Semroc Little Joe II build on Model Rocket Building.  While interested, I must say this hasn't motivated me to start mine.  The body seems like fun but I'm not excited about all the small parts on the capsule.  Maybe this winter when snowed in.  There's a 75% chance I won't sand the dowels down even if the result in a tad clunky (or is that chunky?). I also want to convert a Semroc V-2 to a Hermes but it's still in the bag too.

So, just for kicks I dipped a dozen igniters.  That also fueled the itch.

The man, the pioneer, the legend: Robert Truax (09-03-1917 to 09-17-2010)

Clark Lindsey has posted the text of Robert Truax's obituary.  This guy was even more impressive than I knew.  Clark also has a YouTube clip from a documentary on Robert's life and accomplishments. (Post title swiped from the Facebook page). More on Facebook.

Presenting the Frankenchute

No matter how much dog barf or how large a 'chute protector I use, it seems it is often not quite enough.  As a result, the majority of my rip-stop 'chutes, from 12' to 42", have holes in them.  So, I ask the question, "what do you do with your old 'chutes?"

1. I never damage mine, I use 'em 'til I lose 'em.
2. When they have so many holes that they act like a short, wide streamer, I replace 'em.
3. I fix 'em.
4. Other.

Well, I do #3 with nylon tape from Into The Wind.  This stuff works great, lasts a long time, and yard goes a long way.  As noted in my EMRR review of the stuff, one of my patched 'chutes sat in a tree for over 2 years and, when recovered, the tape was still stuck securely to the 'chute.

I've been out of the tape for a long time and, after the last launch, I decided I needed some more. So, I bought 2 yards of black, purple, and hot pink. 

Today, I fixed a half dozen or so 'chutes, with this one (the same one that used to live in a tree) needing the most patches.  This is a really thin, big 'chute and it was showing wear in addition to having burns.  You can't can't see even all the yellow patches from the first round of fixes and I even found one more spot during the photo op.

Robert Truax on Facebook

Clark Lindsey lets us know that Robert Truax now has a Facebook page posthumously dedicated to him. If you are on FB and your connection is working better than mine, you should check it out.  And for those of you who have said you'd never have an account, this is yet another reason why you might want to reconsider.  If you are paranoid, open a free email account, join, and provide no info.

Cluster-R(ocket girls)

I was looking through an issue of High Power Rocketry from 1995 and spotted an ad for Cluster-R...

Max-Q ready for motors

I was itching to use the flame patterned duct tape that I bought a while back. Shown loaded with a spent 29mm motor and other swappable mounts by it's side. Photos of top, bottom and side, respectively.  Tentative flights planned:  7 x A10-3, 7 x A3-4 (depending on motor vendor availability on site or opening of the Hobby Lobby), 4 x Quest C6-3, 2 x C11-3, 1 x G75M.

blogrolling says their wares aren't mal

Here's an excerpt of what blogrolling had to say about Chrome flagging blogs with embedded blogrolling lists. I believe them but, even though only about 7% of my readership used Chrome, am keeping the Space Blogrolls list disabled until this is resolved.  If you want to access the list, you can go to robot guy's blog (he created the list).

BlogrollingThere’s nothing really wrong with BlogRolling itself but the way we connect your blog to the sites in your blogroll makes some security algorithms think there is.

If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend you remove the Blogrolling code from your site.

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - the movie

 

As promised, Peter 'Shaken, Not Stirred' Abresch's video of the  Too Rolling (Red)Stoned is posted in MDRA's photo gallery  Low, slow, but schweeet!  He also caught Gone Batty on 4 D12's. Thanks Peter!

Oh, and theres a few of my photos up too (the same ones you saw in the slide show attached to the launch report for ESL-148).

The Betts lightning rocket

Fellow rocket blogger R2K found this excellent video of model-sized rockets being used to attract/guide lightning strikes. Unlike some other systems, these do not use a guide line but rather expel a calcium chloride solution to create the conductive path.  R2K includes a lengthier description. PS - The last few clips are unrelated and last one is disturbing so I suggest you stop it at 4 minutes in.

Building the Max-Q

I just got a beta version of Art Applewhite's Max-Q saucer-like object.  This sports a swappable motor mount with 1 x 29mm, 2 x 24mm, 4 x 18mm and 7 x 13mm options.  Even thought the cat is basically out of the bag on this rocket, I was asked not to review it yet. So, I won't provide photos of the parts or intermediate steps.  I'll post a shot of the finished result.

Thawing out the story of ICE

Today's Space Review presents an good article on the ICE spacecraft's close encounter with the comet Giacobini-Zinner. ICE, which was formerly known as ISEE-3 (International Sun-Earth Explorer), was one of the first, if not the first, recycled/repurposed spacecraft (at least that I am aware of).  In the title of this post, I used the word 'thawing' because ISEE-3 was launched in 1978, it's mission was over in 1981, and ICE was 'born' in 1982.  Although ICE's first maneuver occurred  in 1982, the concept was reportedly conceived by a team led by GSFC's Dr. Bob.Farquhar back in the 1970's. It took 18 months for ICE to peform the dance shown below. After passing the comet in 1985, it continued into a wider orbit around the sun.  It's still alive and should return to our vicinity in 2014.  I wonder if it will be healthy enough, and if there will be enough science budget, to use it again? That would be really cool!



You can see my previous posts on ICE/ISEE-3 here.

The Dungeon is safe (again? still?)

This is an open notice to any readers who use Google's Chrome browser and received warning about malware on my blog.  My thanks to R2K and The EGE for bringing this issue to my attention.

The notices were related to the blogrolling-based Space Blogs list.  When The EGE let me know, I immediately commented the code out.  Subsequent web searches (on Google of course) lead me to believe that, most likely, there wasn't any malware and it it merely Chrome being over zealous. However, I'll keep the code disabled until I hear more conclusive results.

Thanks to all for reading!

Thoughts on the refurbishment of the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned

I won't fly it any time soon but will definitely clean it up.  I immediately found yet another thing I should have done.  That is, clear coat the whole thing!  I did so on the top section and it cleaned up well.  But, I can't get the ground-in dirt off the lower section.  It's a job for Tide, but it won't fit in the washer.  LOL.

Even though the beat up fins are in theory replaceable, I think I'll use the duct tape repair method at least for the first fix-up.  I'm thinking about using my new flame pattern duct tape.  Which leads me to the possibility of re-decorating the whole lower part to some non-scale like color pattern.  If you can't clean off the dirt, hide it...right?

Launch Report 2010-11

Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (MDRA ESL-148)
Weather: crystal clear, low 70's, wind 5-10mph
Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 97
Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 130

Another wonderful day, made better by the attendance of my wife, son, daughter in law and pooch.  Thanks for the company and recovery help! There was a large crowd of scouts which made for full racks.  I still did a good amount of flying.

My Flights

1. Too Rolling (Red)Stoned on an H165-5 - Prep went well and I only endured a minor amount of harassment at the RSO table.  I hit one problem - both rail buttons pulled out of their mounts after it was erected on the rail!  I obviously didn't account for the forces created by such a long rocket. But I have a whole bag of spare hardware so I managed to re-install them.  The flight was great with a red-flamed boost to about 400ft (my guess).  It backslid and ejection was with the nose cone still up.  Both 'chutes came out on cue and provided a gentile landing.  However, while a big 'chute provides a soft landing, it can also drag your rocket.  Let me just say that foam fins don't like being drug through a plowed field!  I have some rework to do before flight #2.  All in all, a great flight!  I have a bunch of shots in the slideshow below and Peter A. will be posting a video!
2. Whirlygig-24 on an F24-P - A nice twisty flight.  The crowd loves this rocket.
3. Hat of Death on an E9-P - Ditto!
4. Gone Batty of 4 x D12-5 -Despite using Quest Q2G2 igniters, they insisted I use the Cluster Buck.  This relay system provides something like 100A.  Overkill maybe, but it worked.  Great flight! Much better with the 'strap on' boosters.
5. Madcow Jayhawk on an G64-7 - Really high flight and long walk.  Luckily my son and daughter in law did said walking!
6. Stink Bomb on an EC6-3 - Nice tube-launched flight.
7. Phinagain Cruise Missile on a C11-7 + 2x C11-P - Very nice boost and recovery.  I ignited the 3 motors with Quest Q2G2's, again blasted with the Cluster Buck.

Find more photos like this on Our Planet

It fits...but barely! (update)

 Just finished 90% of the packing for MDRA and found one thing I didn't think of when building the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned.  That is, ITS GOTTA FIT IN MY SMALL SUV!  It just barely fit.  But wait, I need to pack stuff under it. So, with the angle of the roof, it won't fit unless it's at the bottom. Rats.  Angle it up on the seat and it is still just enough off to crush a fin. Angle it so the top is on the headrest itself and , voila, it's in!  Whew.  One thing to note is paper construction tends to be flimsy so I added padding under the rings.  I hope it survives to fly at least once!

PS - A reader noted that their browser is flagging my blog a s malware thia morning.  Nothing detected here but who knows.  I have so many sites linked it that maybe one of the add-ins could have an issue?  Anyway, let me know if you see anything amiss. I'll worry about it after I re-kit some rockets. UPDATE:  Thanks to The EGE, I found that the Blogrolling-based Space Blogs list was being flagged as malware.  I took it out until I can investigate. (And there was no re-kitting today. Yay!)

Modrocs identified as a motivator in President Obama's "Change the Equation" Initiative

Remarks by the President at the Announcement of the "Change the Equation" Initiative, South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, September 16, 2010

You can read all of the President Obama's comments at the link above,  but here is an excerpt regarding techincal education and innovation:

Now, as any one of the scientists, CEOs and teachers here will tell you, this kind of innovation isn’t born in the boardroom or on the factory floor.  It doesn’t begin in a basement workshop or a research laboratory.  That’s where the payoff happens.  But it starts long before.  It starts in a classroom.  It starts when a child learns that every star in the night sky is another sun; when a young girl swells with accomplishment after solving a tough math problem; when a boy builds a model rocket and watches it soar; when an eager student peers through a microscope and discovers a whole new world.  It’s in these moments that a young person may discover a talent or a passion that might lead to a career.  It’s in these moments every day that our nation -- our promise as a nation is realized.  And it is in these moments that we see why a quality science and math education matters, why it is absolutely critical to us. 

Gone Batty got its boosters

 Take 2 tubes that hold the 2nd grain in the G64 reloads (which are conveniently 24mm).  Find 2 matching cones.  Mark and trim strips from the painted body. Epoxy cones in tubes and tubes on rocket.  Since I didn't want all the motors in-line, I had to block the existing lug.  I merely added another.  Oh, yeah, I decided that I wanted to fly it this weekend so there was no time for paint.  Well, I did some quick touch up with brush on gloss black.  I may overcoat the gloss with flat later.  Meanwhile, I know I like the orange cones and think the plain white tubes are OK.  The bungee shock cord has seen better days.  What was I thinking mounting bungee near the motor mount?  If it doesn't burn through this time, I'll add a Kevlar leader through the wall at the launch lug.

Rocket Girls #81

Retro-style images is the theme of the day.  No rockets, but space related - close enough.  Hat tip to B.C. for the references. Note these have been PG-ified to keep from burning the retinas of all my young readers.

Super Mod flies to 2k'

I love the retractable legs.  And the fiery part is good too.  Now, go higher! (via Clark Lindsey)

Gone Batty is going to get a boost

As I was rummaging around trying to figure out what to take to ESL-148 this coming weekend, I spotted Gone Batty and the light bulb turned on.  This rocket flies OK on two D12-3's but isn't very exciting.  Just like my Raygun Gothic HoJo on its first flight.  The remedy (besides clustering 24mm composites) - add strap on boosters!  Due to the proximity to Halloween, I think I'll tweak it up for Red Glare. (Even if I don't go.)

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - NVS escape tower completed

Well, it's done!  It is a loose fit and tends to sit a little cockeyed.  I goofed a little on the orientation of the nozzles.  It appears that white may be a poor choice for the color of the center support bar.  Other than that, it's your basic not-very-scale representation of a real rocket.

Red Glare IX - one cause, 2 'chutes, tons of rockets

The '2-'chute' logo has been selected via popular vote. The event is shaping up well. Check it out!  As for me, the jury is still out as to whether I'll be able to attend.

Flaming duct tape and tower status

First, check out the cool 'Duck Tape' that I found at Michaels.  Cool if you like tape on rockets at least.  And I do!

Despite the bum knee, I did venture into the Dungeon yesterday and resumed work on the escape tower for the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned.  I have the structure done and am in the process of making the motor nozzles.  I bought some small foam cones, which I trimmed down and wrapped in card stock.  They should go on tomorrow and I'll start painting. I'm going to use brush on acrylics.  Cheap and quick.  And fitting for the materials used.  Then, all I'll have left to figure out is the top aerodynamic spike.  I want this done for this weekend's launch.  Given that the rocket may make only one flight, I'd like to have it ready for an on-site photo op.

Orbital mechanics awesomeness (updated)

This is an illustration of the ARTEMIS-P1 libration orbits. The ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon’s Interaction with the Sun) mission uses two of the five in-orbit THEMIS spacecraft that completed their mission earlier this year. ARTEMIS-P1 is the first spacecraft to navigate to, and perform stationkeeping operations around, the Earth-Moon L1 and L2 Lagrangian points. Unlike Earth orbits which are stable systems, maintaining the orbits around L1/L2 will require constant monitoring and corrections. Space fellowship has a good article with more mission details.

It just struck me that this looks a bit like the plot of a Lorenz Attractor. (plot via Wikipedia)

Tether test of the 'Super Mod'

The Super Mod is more powerful, more aerodynamic, and sports shiny new telescopic legs. Last Saturday's test included perturbations to simulate the recovery from aerodynamic impulses. Armadillo says they were ready for a free flight but ran out of time. (via HobbySpace)

AeroPac's new virtual classroom - "bringing the playa to the Internet."

As seen on Rocketry Planet:

AeroPac's new virtual classroom is up and running

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/aeropacs-show

Just in time for the 12th annual ARLISS (arliss.org) launch (with over 40 M flights of student robotic satellites) and the AeroPac 100k' XPRS launch (www.aeropac.org), the AeroPac Virtual Classroom will be on the air. Come see the altitude attempts at XPRS with our 100k' waiver!

A three year AeroPac project - the Virtual Classroom is a mobile ground station that provides 1.2m satellite (or 3/4G cellular where available) Internet backhaul - supporting WiFi Internet, VoIP, streaming video, HAM and GMRS voice and digital data (WiFi, 2m/70cm APRS and 900 MHz FHSS) telemetry and tracking. Supported by the work and donations of the AeroPac team, from Professor Lynn Cominsky's team at Sonoma State University and by grants from the California Space Authority and a kind van donation from ABC-TV in LA. Inspired by the original idea of Professor Bob Twiggs - the inventor of the CanSat and CubeSat.

We will be streaming live video of both Black Rock launches (and a Twitter feed) from 9/13-9/19 at www.aeropac.org. And on occasion will provide live GPS tracking of selected flights.

Come join us! This will be a feature at future AeroPac launches (and other launches possibly as well) bringing the playa to the Internet.

(Future) big a$$ rocket of the day - Evel Knievel Skycyle

Punk Rocket Science is building one!  He's even getting help from Evel's son, Kelly. How cool is that!?!  Follow the build here.

Review of ROCKETS Magazine LDRS-29 DVD set

The LDRS-29 video set is comprised of 4 DVDs, 2 with video and 2 containing a slideshow of over 4900 photos.  The 2 hours video is shot in HD and has a Dolby-surround soundtrack.  Both the video and slideshow discs are organized into chapters so you can navigate through them easily.

The video is of excellent quality and the ROCKETS crew does a good job of following the rockets under boost.  However, there is a little too much coverage of rockets under 'chute.  There are also numerous segments of on-board footage and I have the same complaint: the up direction is interesting but much of the down direction is either looking up at the sky and spinning wildly. This is pet peeve of mine and is not unique to ROCKETS' videos. The coverage of the early days starts slowly (just like the launch itself, I suppose) but the quality picks up quickly.  There were some really cool rockets launching!  I wish there were more interviews with the builders/fliers about the details of the rockets, however, there were several such segments.  I also miss Earl Cagle's 'pad cam' approach.  Earl would have three views of the bigger, more interesting projects - one far away, one showing just he early boost, and then one up close and personal.  This leads me to the most unique and interesting stuff.  Doug Gerrard, from New Mexico, is known for his video rocketry work.  He brought out a tower equipped with a slew of cameras that took launch footage from many angles and perspectives.  This was IMO the best part of the whole set and alone was worth the cost of admission.

The still photos are embedded in a  video slide show and are not individually available.  On my netbook with remote drive, the slide show did not start automatically.  I had to navigate to the directory and find a suitable file to double click.  I did so and IntervideoWinDVD started up.  I don't know if this is the native format of what's on the disk or not.  If viewed in real time, the slide shows themselves would take several hours to view.  Luckily, WinDVD has excellent fast forward capabilities so I watched them at 8x speed, stopping only occasionally.  I really would prefer a thumbnail view of stills but I can see why the owner would want it this way - you can't extract the individual photos. Although, WinDVD has a snap feature, it appears to be disabled.  There were many shots that I would like to have been able to zoom in on.  For example, there is a sequence of shots of a 'Rocket Gun' that someone brought out  and I could barely discern what it was and why photos of it might have been included.

Despite my minor complaints, I really like this set and you get a lot for your money.  If you want a rocket video, I recommend this one.

Armchair rocketman

My knee's been bothering me and every time it starts to get better I seem to re-irritate it.  So, no grass mowing or climbing down into the Dungeon today.  Gotta get it ready for next weekend's launch.  So, what am I doing? Watching the ROCKETS Magazine LDRS-29 video :)

UFO pop 'gliders'

I've seen many, and built one, rocket with pop gliders.  Here's my Mirror Image featuring two Guillow's Shuttles.

But, now I see the Model Rocket Building blog is featuring the OOP MPC Martian Patrol rocket...which has two UFO-style pop gliders. Well, they don't glide as much as float down. I'll be watching that build with interest.

Deep fried beer - only in Texas

You heard it right, a fellow in Texas has found a way to do it.  Ravioli pouches filled with Guinness and deep fried. Yummmmy.

Bacon Freak - bacon is now only a click away

Warthog also supplied a link to Bacon Freak, the "100% Real Gourmet Bacon Superstore."  On-line shopping and lots of recipes too.  I feel my arteries clogging already ;)

Bacon up that casing, boy!

The latest lubricant for your reloadable hardware.  Probably not N2O safe.  (Hat tip to Warthog.)

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - NVS escape tower - will it be ready by ESL-148?

The answer is probably.  I have dowels and am ready to start cutting them.  I have found all the fudging with the size of things caught up with me.  I had to make some compromises to the the tower pieces to angle in slightly towards the top.  Like I said, NVS all the way, baby (in my best Elvis voice).

Dem bones, dem bones, dem _____ bones

In case you don't only read this blog for the pictures (or the rockets), you can read an interview with Kari: Best Job Ever: Kari Byron, Mythbuster.  I only looked at that post for the picture so, if you find anything cool, leave a comment.

Fire in the hole!

Probably neither the fire nor the hole you were expecting on a rocket blog.  Bacon  jalapeño poppers, via Instructables.

The Original Rocket Bacon Dungeon (?)

Beamed-energy model rocket

Via Clark Lindsey comes notice of an article in the MIT Tech Review - Microwave-Powered Rocket Ascends without Fuel.  The power source is a pulsed microwave maser that heats the air below the rocket to within 10,000 degrees Celsius.  In the following video, the rapidly expanding air propels a hollow metallic rocket weighing 126g (4.44oz). Crank up the volume and hit 'play'.



While the 1.2 meter altitude is not impressive, it is still a pretty cool demo. The article says the record for such a craft is 72m with over 12 seconds flight time. Unfortunately the link didn't work for me. Could the record holder be this laser-pumped flying saucer?

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - NVS escape tower

NVS = not very scale

I started the tower build today. The attachment and main support will be a 1/2" dowel that runs between the top of the capsule and the fake escape motor, which will be the 6" end cap from a mailing tube. This structure doesn't exist on the real thing but it makes it easy for me. The dowel will be painted some nondescript color. Clear would be better but I'm using what I got.

A short 3" 'coupler' tube will slip over the existing top section of the capsule. This will be black just like the capsule. The lower 'Y' shaped sections of the tower will be glued to this coupler. I'm thinking about 1/4" dowels for these and the vertical struts. Then 1/8" dowels will be used for all the cross members. All the dowlage and escape motor will be red.

I haven't figured out the escape nozzle motors.

This should look as scale as the rest from the 'B' cell (aka the 'C' cell if there are two LPR banks). Too bad it will be removed at that point and won't look as good at my base camp. Meh.

LRD-D-1 scale model

Click through to find more of Peter's plans via Flickr!

LRD-D-1 scale model, originally uploaded by p_c_alway.

Rocket heredity

I think this is where I got my rocket genes!  My dad's outfit, circa 1947.  Via the Ft. Bliss Monitor:

The 1st Anti-Aircraft Guided Missile Battalion was organized at Fort Bliss in October 1945. While Operation Paperclip personnel initially did the research and development at Fort Bliss; the test firings were conducted by the guided missile battalion at White Sands. The first V-2 rocket was fired March 15, 1946, to test the engine, with the first flight May 10. From that date until 1952, 67 of these rockets were successfully launched from the proving grounds. The battalion also launched the liquid fueled WAC Corporal in February 1947. The Corporal series were considered the first American made rockets.

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - ready to fly!

This is the final flight configuration.  With the laundry, it comes in at 4lb 11oz.  It will likely be a few over that on flight day due to the dog barf, motor hooks, etc.  The CP-CG is about what I was estimating - whew.  An H165-5 should still be a reasonable power plant.  Since I don't have anything else on the bench, I probably will build a tower for it. 

The precursor to the HEAT-1X-Tycho Brahe was...The Margin of Error

Clear capsule - check. Fake passenger (albeit a 2 one) - check. Didn't make it to space - check.

OK, OK, OK, Copenhagen Suborbital's HEAT-1X-Tycho Brahe is cooler.

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - the inspiration

A different type of rockoon

Rocket Balloon, originally uploaded by rektproductions.

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - getting close

 
Well the capsule drama is resolved at least for flight number one.  Minimally, about all I need to do is add the upper wrap.  Currently, the roll pattern is roughed out.  I need to get a brand spanking new indelible black marker to finish it up.  Past that, I'm contemplating how to mark 'UNITED STATES' on the body.  Cheap and easy are the two main criteria for that.  Maybe a stencil and a spray can?  I'm not really motivated to make the escape tower, which won't fly anyway.  However, my motivation can change phases spontaneously.  The weight is probably hovering around 4lb 6oz less the upper section's 'chute.

Cruise missile test

Check out this 1986 test of a Tomahawk cruise missile. (with a hat tip to the Bad Astronomer)  Phil points out that, even though the explosion is moving faster than the speed of sound, the plane has burst into flames before the explosion has reached it.  He goes on to explain, "When the warhead exploded, it sent out a huge pulse of heat in the form of infrared photons, light that travels about a million times faster than sound."  And being  scientific and all, he relates this to asteroid deterrence.  Follow the earlier link for more discussion and another photo.

On the hazards of liquid motor work

There are several good posts in the source TRF thread, but I'll highlight just one, from bobkrech, on LOX.  For no particular reason, I just found it interesting

Ace of Cakes report

I just watched the The Ace of Cakes Full Throttle Bakery episode, which was filmed at the TARC finals at Great Meadow (NOVAAR's field).  The show's staff made a 10lb cake and launched it in what looked like a bowling ball launcher (which real rocketeers made).  They used the biggest motor available - a 'K'.  Silly bakers.  It was the biggest available to them, I guess. Speaking of Guess, I saw Mitch and some other familiar NOVAAR faces. Here are a few digicam shots.  Crappy quality, I know.  The lucky star of the show also got a flight in the Fat Albert JATO-assisted C-130. That was cool.