Archive for Current (Active) Projects

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Latest Artemis missions May 23rd launches.

May25
by cgould on May 25, 2010 at 2:41 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(May 23, 2010 – Amherst, OH)

The month of May was a busy one for project Artemis! A total of twelve missions.

We wrapped up our missions for the month of May on the 23rd with four flights.

The first mission of the day was ALS0013, the first flight of the official ArtemisV payload aerocraft on booster #3. Performance was perfect.

Artemis booster #3 on the pad awaiting the beginning of mission ALS013

Mission ALS013 begins!

The second mission, ALS0014, was the return flight of Artemis booster #1 (Big Red). We flew the Artemis 1E payload section, and the return to the air flight was absolutely picture perfect.

Artemis booster Big Red takes to the sky on mission ALS014

Mission #3 (ALS0015), another flight of booster #3. This one turned into a nail biter!

After a picture perfect launch, we experienced a shock cord failure causing separation of the booster from the parachute. The booster section free-fell from 850 feet. The landing happened to be in a water logged section of the field, so the booster was fine. The 1E payload was recovered a ways away in perfect condition (it came down extra slow on the parachute).

Artemis booster #3 at liftoff for mission ALS015

Mission #4 (ALS0016) was not a scheduled mission, but one we could not pass up. The first flight to break the 1,000 foot celing. Artemis booster #3 was quickly repaired, and put to the task of this feat. We loaded an Aerotech F12 black jack composite motor, and sent her off to over 1700 feet. Flight was spectacular, and was a great conclusion to the missions in the month of May.

Artemis booster #3 closing on a spectacular note with a high altitude launch on an Aerotech F12 black jack motor!

The next scheduled missions are set for June 12. More info to come!

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Next Artemis program Launch Windows / First steps to next program

May22
by cgould on May 22, 2010 at 4:09 AM
Posted In: Carina Shuttle Project, XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

The next few Artemis project launch windows.

Weather permitting, Artemis booster #1 (Big Red) will make a return to the skies as she makes her first operational flight on May 23rd at the Skybusters Amherst, OH field.  “Big Red” has been grounded since the flight tests flown on missions ALS-001 through ALS-004.   Some design changes had to be made as well as some damage repairs.

May 23rd will also bring the first flight of Artemis booster #4 (the booster that rounds out the fleet of four Artemis class  booster rockets).

A total of three flights are scheduled for the Artemis program.  There will be flights of the Artemis V-a payload stages – both flown on the new booster, and the Artemis 1E payload section will be on “Big Red”.

After Sunday’s flights, the next launch windows are June 12th at Harmon Field, and a night flight on July 3rd at Pichman’s field.

First steps towards the Sagitta booster project.

There will be two Pegasus class high performance rockets constructed to test construction techniques that will be employed in the Sagitta heavy lift booster rocket.  The Pegasus rocket will be much smaller than the Artemis airship configurations, and its missions will involve high speed / high altitude missions.

The Sagitta booster will be used for flying heavy payloads, and a version of the booster will be used in the Carina Shuttle project.

The first Sagitta booster missions are set for summer 2011.

The Carina shuttle project is scheduled to begin spring / summer 2013.

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Artemis V payload section progress….

May16
by cgould on May 16, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(March 16, 2010 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)

The upper payload bay that constitutes the Artemis V launch vehicle configuration is close to being ready for flights.

Artemis-V Mission ALS-008 takes to the sky. Andrew the MTMA Vice President Andrew Kleinhenz watches from the field.

On missions ALS-008, 009, and 010 the upper payload section was a boilerplate (a mock-up) intended only for aerodynamic performance tests under various launch scenarios such as launching at an angle into the wind, launching 100% vertical assent with a cross-breeze, etc.

Artemis V payload section under construction.

The actual Artemis V payload section under construction is equipped with provisions to house Altimeters, and an antenna to support radio telemetry.

A 4.5 volt power supply system is also being developed to power these electronic experiments, along with an alternate camera battery based electrical system.

Artemis V mission ALS-013 will test the power supply systems under flight conditions.

The next launch dates will be announced soon…

((( )))

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