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For this Saturday’s Pathfinder launch (January 21st), Launch Pad #1’s new launch controller will feature a software update to fix a bug, and to add a new safety feature.
The software bug involved having the controller stay in the “lockout” mode after reset. When this happened, issuing a second reset would clear the condition. Since this did not compromise safety protocols, I went forward with the launches, and worked around the bug.
The bug has now been fixed.
A new safety protocol feature has been added. If there is an igniter continuity problem at the launch pad, the launch controller will place itself in “lockout”, or “disarmed mode” until a manual reset is issued. This prevents the possibility of an accidental launch should someone go to the pad to adjust or connect the launch igniter leads with the launch controller armed.
Launch pad #2 is in the final planning phases.
Launch Pad2 will be my high power launch pad used to launch any 29mm or higher comosite motor based rocket, such as Nesaru and the 29mm Artemis Dual Deploy rockets.
Initially these rockets will fly on MTMA club pads until the new launch pad is done. One of the key features will be a microcomputer based launch controller. A version of which (LCC-100) has just been completed for Launch Pad 1.
LCC-200 will be the designation of the controller being designed for Launch Pad 2. Initially the launch pad will use the same electronic gear from Launch Pad #1, but by summer Launch Pad #2 will have its own system.
The long term plan is for the system to be totally wireless.
Of particular interest to me in this wireless scheme is an idea to design flight the computers for my high power rockets to also communicate on the wireless channels. This will allow the rockets themselves to report back pre-flight status, and provide feed back for computer a determined GO / NO-GO status for launch. This may eventually evolve to having real-time radio telemetry as well as audio / video from the rockets during flight.
All of this computer power in the launch control system means that the real capability to automate the launch of rockets my will be there.
There many schemes I’ve thought of, but the system I’m favoring is one where regular human intervention is required for the rockets to actually launch. One way for this to happen is to have the controller “hold” the countdown at some regular interval, and wait for a human operator to press a button as a way to say “proceed – still GO for launch”.
Any abnormality that is detected during the automated countdown sequence (such as bad igniter continuity) will either cause a countdown abort, or hold the countdown until the situation is resolved.
The #1 concern here is safety, and a list of checks and balances is being designed for incorporation into the system with the idea that it will be harder to launch the rocket than not. You have to REALLY want to launch, or else the launch is scrubbed.
That is the status of the launch & recovery projects as of right now!
((( )))
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Things start to take shape…
One of my goals from the very “re-start” of my rocketry hobby in 2009 has been to develop functional rocket designs that allow for more advanced uses of Model Rocketry.
From the start, my designs centered around a booster section, and a payload section. Most of my focus in 2010 / 2011 has been around the booster section. The only “payload” in use to date (outside of the X2 Artemis flights) has been the recovery parachute.
The design concept of my rockets involves the booster section being separate from the upper payload, or “airship” section. The payload section typically carries the payloads needed fulfill a particular mission. The original Artemis missions demonstrated this possibility, though the “payload” sections were conceptual boiler plates for the most part.
Artemis rocket "Garfield" lifting off on mission ALS-033
As 2010 wound down, the next booster design, X4 Perseus, was introduced, and the design was put to a series of test flights which lasted through 2011.
In late 2010, work began on a larger rocket — one designed to do functional experiments and fully exploit the modular design principles.
The Nesaru project began.
The Nesaru booster stack will use many new concepts in construction, recovery systems protection, new electronic control systems, and flight preparation. All of this built on data collected from Artemis and Perseus flight tests. A long-term project was needed to test these systems.
To test these new ideas, I commissioned a new Artemis booster design. This allowed for the ability to fully test all the Nesaru concepts – only on a smaller scale!
The newest Artemis booster, Pathfinder, was built from spare parts left over from when the earlier Artemis missions were fully active.
Perseus rocket "Eagle" lifting off on a high altitude flight mission December 26, 2011
The Adventure airship due to ride aboard the Nesaru X6 booster early 2012.
The Artemis / Pathfinder is the first rocket stack in my fleet to have an official split Payload / Booster stage.
The Nesaru X6 Booster section, which will carry the Adventure Airship to an altitude of around 2500 feet on the maiden voyage of the Adventure / Nesaru rocket.
The X5 Aurora project brought things a bit further in this respect, but the fact remained that the individual rockets were really not very interchangeable. This was because their major goal in service was to fly as many missions under varying conditions to gather data points on aerodynamic performance and stability and lift capacity under these varying conditions.
The Artemis design has the longest history in this regard, so I chose that design as the first step to a fully functional modular rocket.
Artemis / Pathfinder lifting off on the Aerotech F-35 motor. This is the first time any of my rockets have used this more powerful motor!
The X6 Nesaru booster design is based on the X4 Perseus booster, so its flight characteristics should be similar. Later in 2012, the X7 booster should be ready, and its design is based on the Aurora X5 booster.
The X7 booster will allow “Adventure” or other payload craft of similar design to carry heavier payloads into the air.
2012 is shaping up to be an interesting year!
Pathfinder / Artemis info:
Operating altitude:
Payload capability:
Adventure / Nesaru design data:
Operating range:
Payload Capacity:
Launch Pad One….
During the launches on December 26th, I was testing my new microprocessor based launch controller. The goal of the Dec 26th test was to confirm that all the safety systems, and the automatic “pulsed” firing system operated as planned. All went fine, besides a very minor bug with the arming of the launch system. Sometimes the arming key needed to be re-inserted to arm the pad. The bug was found, and has since been fixed.
The launch control system is designed around the Aerotech Copperhead igniters. My thought is this: Get those to ignite reliably, and you’re set with just about anything. LOL.
As I said earlier, besides for the small bug, all systems performed well. Currently, I am designing the automatic countdown sequence for the system, which will not be ready until sometime this spring. Lots of safety tests & reviews to do before I “go live” with that feature. An engineering buddy of mine and I have discusd various safety systems to include in the design of the automatic countdown system. More information on that as things come together!
The next series of launches from the controller (basically, any and all launches from Launch Pad #1 from now until the countdown function goes live) will further test the basic launch & safety software on the controller system.
This same software will be used for the controller system for Launch Pad #2 once it is done. Launch Pad #2 will be a high power rail launch pad for Nesaru booster based rockets as wall as other high power rockets that will join my fleet in the future.
The final controller system that will emerge from these basic controllers will be one that can control both launch pads from a single control point. This new system will more than likely be a wireless system. THAT system is a ways into the future, though!
Launch Pad #1 was placed into service July 31, 2010, and has had a couple of hardware upgrades since then, most notably a new blast deflector system based around a masonry cutting wheel.
((( )))