Since this will be a research flight with the O-motor - are you looking at doing research motors for everything else?

If you want to do the 75mm 2/3 grain motors I could volunteer the machining if the project bought the materials. Doing 5 motors is not much more work than doing one once the lathe is set up. Maybe people who'd like could purchase a motor at cost and then use it in the flight and then later use it for personal flights.

On recovery - how many parachutes are you looking at and what is your estimated weight? I've got a good deal on fabric but it will expire in a couple weeks. Also, how much volume do you have and how do you want to deploy? Free bag? Toss the laundry out and pray? Reefed and staged recovery?

Edward

Hey Edward, not totally sure about anything yet. I have RockSim setup now and initial simms are putting me too high, and fast, with the "O" motor .. I may have to downgrade to an "N". Right now, guessing at finished weight, I get 7700' and 650 mph launching on a "O" and staging to a "K". I'd like to go all EX motors, hoping it will cost less than commercial. I also need more data to determine chute size etc. I do have 2 - 10' and 1 - 8' plus 1 - 22' cargo chute. Since I won't detach the boosters I won't need chutes there. I will likely need a few more 10' or 8' chutes. Won't make decision on that for a few months.

Thanks !!

I've got a chute that is drastically more efficient than flat chutes - by almost 2 times. Once you get a final weight let me know - I'm sure we could cut it down to just one very large chute.

Edward

Just remember not to exceed 40,960 total installed Ns or plan on taking the project elsewhere, or doing a pile of paperwork. Our waiver's are specifically for Class One and Class Two rockets. A Class Three project is a whole different scenario.

Every project includes a party pooper - sorry.

Steve, It seems to me, after reading Joe's last comment, if you could manufacture engines similar to N1975 for the center engine, with 14,272 N/S of thrust, and a burn time of 7.2 seconds; and use 6 - K261 for the outboard motors with 2021 N/S and a burn time of 7.8 seconds, along with 4 - more of the Ks on the second stage, you would be able to stay under 40,960 N/S and at the same time you could avoid the issues with trying to airstart the six outboard motors, as we have discussed. If all seven 1st stage motors are ignited simultaneously, the outside motors will be burning giving a great show and possibly a slow lift off, with the N firing and up to pressure about 2-3 seconds later, you would then have some good acceleration and over 1000 lbs of thrust. The outboards then burn out, the inboard finishes, and falls away due to drag and you airstart the last 4 -Ks. I maybe all wet in my scenario, and need further education, which I welcome.

Just remember not to exceed 40,960 total installed Ns or plan on taking the project elsewhere, or doing a pile of paperwork. Our waiver's are specifically for Class One and Class Two rockets. A Class Three project is a whole different scenario.

Every project includes a party pooper - sorry.

hehe .. no prob .. From the Simms I've run I'm thinking the "O" just may be too much for my wants anyway so may have to go with an "N". It'll be a Class 2 flight.

Thanks!

I'd recommend setting it up so that the central N has enough oomph to get it to a safe altitude all by itself (in case of failed ignition of some/all outboards). Set the outboards to ignite upon motion (trip wire or G-switch). I like the sound of long burns in the outboards for effect. Can't wait to see this one. I wish I had more spare time (and $) to contribute!

-Ken (loves big clusters and airstarts!)

I'd recommend setting it up so that the central N has enough oomph to get it to a safe altitude all by itself (in case of failed ignition of some/all outboards). Set the outboards to ignite upon motion (trip wire or G-switch). I like the sound of long burns in the outboards for effect. Can't wait to see this one. I wish I had more spare time (and $) to contribute!

-Ken (loves big clusters and airstarts!)

That is exactly the plan. We learned that lesson on the Delta II. We lit 6 - "H"s and an "M" at once. The "H"s were almost done before the "M" was full up. Luckily still a great flight .. but ...

Thanks!

Steve and all,

I plan on attending MHM with my complete launch pad set up that I am upgrading to all digital video cameras. I plan on having over a dozen cameras on the launch pad and surrounding mounts. I have several new mounts that I hope to finish by then making the entire set up more professional and hopefully yield more professional results.

I know you planned on building your own launch platform that is more to scale but if you or anyone would like to launch off of my set up, contact me to discuss.

Doug Gerrard

Steve and all,

I plan on attending MHM with my complete launch pad set up that I am upgrading to all digital video cameras. I plan on having over a dozen cameras on the launch pad and surrounding mounts. I have several new mounts that I hope to finish by then making the entire set up more professional and hopefully yield more professional results.

I know you planned on building your own launch platform that is more to scale but if you or anyone would like to launch off of my set up, contact me to discuss.

Doug Gerrard

Thanks Doug .. just sent you a PM. Glad you'll be coming over. Always fun to see you .. especially movie time.

Just remember not to exceed 40,960 total installed Ns or plan on taking the project elsewhere, or doing a pile of paperwork. Our waiver's are specifically for Class One and Class Two rockets. A Class Three project is a whole different scenario.

Every project includes a party pooper - sorry.

So.... If after we dropped the first stage, could we have a second rocket Rendezvous with it and deliver more motors? Would that 40 thingy still count?
🙂

I think someone else was working on this too. 🙄

Sat, 1/28/12, 10am to ....
Longmont, CO

We'll be glassing tubes and building the Booster motor mount/fin assembly.

Glassing can be messy .. dress accordingly.

PM me if you plan to come so I can get you my phone and the location.

Steve

Steve - would you consider a 4.5" N motor? A little longer burn than 4", but not in the range of 6" hardware yet.

I'd very much like to be part of the project, but time is shorter now than during the Delta II. Let me know of anything I can work on.

Edward

Steve - would you consider a 4.5" N motor? A little longer burn than 4", but not in the range of 6" hardware yet.

I'd very much like to be part of the project, but time is shorter now than during the Delta II. Let me know of anything I can work on.

Edward

I'll consider everything ... I'm still guessing at weight but the latest simms w/ an N4000 boost was more than enough. We'll have to get the build going a bit to see how the weight is panning out.

Thanks!

Whatever you do with the outboards, make sure they are long burn... J90's or Loki K250's or similar. The Delta was underpowered and the M almost didn't come up to pressure before the H's burned out.

Doug, Most excellant to read you're planning on attending MHM. Not to hijack this thead but I'm pretty sure Ed and I would like to loft the Saturn V again from your awesome pad.