Archive for Current (Active) Projects

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Some updates and changes…

Jan09
by cgould on January 9, 2011 at 8:48 PM
Posted In: XR5 (Aurora) Medium Power Booster

(January 9, 2011 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

We are still working out a possible launch window for January 15th.  Originally scheduled to fly was Perseus Columbia on a high performance flight, and an Artemis booster to test anti-zippering tech.

Since the Aurora X5 booster “Firefly” is done, and ready for flight, I have decided to dump the Artemis mission, and go with Firefly.  Firefly is already equipped with anti-zipper tech, so I can kill two birds with one stone here.   Columbia is still a “go” as well.

Aurora X5 Firefly on a launch pad test.

The plan is to do one high performance flight with Columbia, and two flights with Firefly.  Firefly will fly the camera and altimeter, and depending on the direction of the winds, I may go for the F35 motor flight as Firefly’s second mission!  First launch will be on an E-18 motor.  I may decide to work my way up to the F35 with an F24 flight in between — it just depends on how patient I will be in the cold.  Hehe.

So far the weather is looking ok..a bit on the breezy side – which is OK for the anti-zipper tests.  High of 30, 12 MPH winds.  We’re starting the countdown for a Saturday the 15th, or a Sunday the 16th launch should we scrub Saturday’s attempt…

This launch will be at the O’Reily field in Middlefield, OH.

This will be my first club launch as VP of the MTMA rocketry club!  More on that later!

((( )))

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First look at Firefly…

Jan01
by cgould on January 1, 2011 at 6:13 AM
Posted In: XR5 (Aurora) Medium Power Booster

(January 1, 2011  Cuyahoga Falls, Oh)

Aurora X5 booster “Firefly” is a few steps closer to completion with the completion of its airframe, launch pad support, and its main coat of paint.

Firefly before its coat of primer & paint

Firefly after the main coat of paint has been applied.

Firefly on the workbench getting its final cosmetic touches...

The firefly is sporting a change in the paint scheme for the Aurora boosters, which consists of a silver band at the top of the booster stage.   Omnia has that same scheme as well.  The Firefly differs as it has a black band at the base of the recovery stage (which butts against the top of the booster).

Those touches were finished on the workbench just as 2011 was ringing in.  Our first new rocket of 2011 was christened mere minutes after the new year began!

Other design features of the Firefly.

– Modified motor mount system to allow use of the Aerotech F35W motor.

– A multi-stage ejection baffle system consisting of a half-moon disc system as well as a variation on the traditional side-fire scheme used in all our boosters since the Artemis X2 booster series.  Perseus X4 booster Eagle has such a system, and it has proven itself to be very effective.

– Anti-Zippering design.  The recovery system is no longer deployed from the base of the nose-cone.  The entire section forward of the booster section separates, uncovering the parachute and recovery harness.   The mount point on the booster is open and free to allow for a wide variety of play without coming in contact with the airframe.

– Firefly introduces the traditional construction of a “Fin Can” to the Aurora X5 booster line.

Firefly’s first flight is penciled in for February 15th.

((( )))

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Possible bonus flights in January

Dec31
by cgould on December 31, 2010 at 12:34 AM
Posted In: XR4 (Perseus) Medium Power Booster project

(Dec. 30, 2010 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

There might be an opportunity for some launches this coming January 15th 2010 — weather and life permitting!

If so, there are two missions under consideration.

One is a “redo” of the high performance / high altitude attempt with the Perseus X4 Booster, Columbia.   The goal will be to see how close to the 2,000 foot mark we can get.   To do this, Columbia will be flying light and lean.  No cameras or payloads will be onboard besides our light weight altimeter.

X4 - Columbia being prepped for a possible high altitude / high performance mission...

The second mission will be a general test of our standard recovery system in winter weather using one of the X2 Artemis boosters.  We had a number of elastic shock cord failures while in Dayton during TORC Fest, and the possible series of tests will be to see if these failures were due to the cold temperatures.   These failures have lead to the use of Kevlar shock cords, which are not as forgiving to the rocket airframes under less than ideal parachute deployments.   The results of the tests will determine the direction to use in future launches.

More information later!

((( )))

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