Artemis ground tests results give a green light for launch

May21
by cgould on May 21, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(May 21, 2011 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

Some good news on the day of our final existence here on Earth.  🙂
Ground tests of the parachute deployment system ejection system retrofit for the Artemis booster were successful today.   For these tests, the on-board parachutes were deployed using our (untested) ejection charge system, which has been developed for use in future dual deployment flights.

So, in thinking about it, This test was actually a successful demonstration of two new systems.

Artemis rocket "Garfield" on the ground testing stand.

Deployment!

A series of three tests were performed, and all were successful, clearing the Artemis booster “Garfield” for launch next month.

These series of tests also advances the dual deployment mission scheduled for later this summer ahead by one more step.

((( )))

 Comment 

X2 Artemis rocket “Philadelphia” next to be retrofitted for flight

May20
by cgould on May 20, 2011 at 4:30 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(May 20, 2011 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

Artemis rocket (X2-04) Philadelphia will be the next rocket due to be retrofitted with anti-zipper mods.   This will ready the newest Artemis rocket for its return to flight status.

X2 Artemis booster Philadelphia lifting off on mission ALS-18 on June 12, 2010.

 

Up and Away! Philadelphia on its way into the sky (Mission ALS-18)

Philadelphia is the lightest of the Artemis booster, and is the highest flying of the Artemis fleet.   I’m predicting that its return to mission flight to be later in August 2011.

More info & pictures to come!

((( )))

 

 Comment 

Perseus V

May20
by cgould on May 20, 2011 at 4:05 AM
Posted In: XR6 (Perseus V) high power booster.

(May 19, 2011 – Cuyahoga Falls, Oh)

A few months ago, I started the first baby steps towards my Level 1 certification project.  After practicing making my own plywood centering rings, work was completed on a 29mm motor mount that would later be the beginnings of my 1st Level 1 rocket.

I’ve decided to make it an unscaled version of the Perseus booster design.  This one will stand almost 5 ft tall.  Predicted maximum altitude looks to be around 3600-ish feet.  Maximum velocity is predicted to be about 550 MPH.   Most of the flights will probably be 1000 ft. less during typical missions.

The maiden voyage will not be until sometime around the end of the year.

Later this summer, I will begin work on a high power launch pad to launch the beast.  The electronics for the current mid power launch pad will be used for a while to launch the higher power flights.

Airframe tubing has arrived, and the fins have been cut.  Later this week, the nose cone arrives, as well as airframe couplers.  Within a few weeks, the first prototype of the ejection baffle system will be built and ground tested.

Electronic systems for the rocket are being designed, and on-board video camera mounting designs are being considered.

More info to come as the project begins to take shape!

((( )))

 Comment 

Featured Picture: Shuttle Atlantis

May19
by cgould on May 19, 2011 at 12:06 AM
Posted In: Featured Picture

(Kennedy Space Center – Florida)

Today’s picture features a look at Space Shuttle Atlantis as it is being hoisted up to be mated with the external tank and solid rocket boosters for it final flight, and the final flight ever of the Space Shuttle program.

Atlantis being maneuvered to mate to the external tank & Solid Rocket Boosters...

I’ll have fond memories of Atlantis!   When I saw this shuttle launch in November, 2009, it launched me back into the model rocket hobby!

 

 Comment 

Big Red Launch Videos for Missions AU-12 and AU-13

May18
by cgould on May 18, 2011 at 12:55 AM
Posted In: Video

This page is mostly a test of our video posting system, which allows me to post videos of my launches without having to rely on You Tube links….

Enjoy!

Mission 1 (AU-12) (Maiden launch)

High quality:

[flashvideo file=video/AU-12h.flv /]

Low Quality:

[flashvideo file=video/AU-12.flv /]

Mission 2 (AU-13)

High quality:

[flashvideo file=video/AU-13h.flv /]

Low Quality:

[flashvideo file=video/AU-13.flv /]

 

 Comment