2012-03-17 Rocket Launch

Amature Rocketry

Our first launch of a sugar rocket on a stick. By all right, it should not have been launched without a parachute. However, we have perfect visibility for a mile circle, and launched at an angle to keep it away from us. Don’t do this. We’ll not do this again, ourselves.

Shortly after launch, we had our first PVC glue failure. The end cap blew off. I think the fuel had too fast of a burn rate (too hot).  When this happened, it the motor ripped itself from the stick. Despite this, we got a max altitude of aprox 400 ft.  I know the flight isn’t strictly parabolic, but it’s by best guess.

(16 ft/sec^2) * (0.5*10sec)^2 = 400′

Launch site is over water.  Nearest house is about one mile away.  Motor was found, after splashing through about 2′ of water, nose down, embed in packed sand about 2 inches about 600′ from the launch site.  This was way too close for me,  next time will increase the angle of launch tube.  Will add those bath water dyes for children, to make it easier to spot.

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2012-03-02 Rocket Motor 4 Mike Chapaton’s Motor 001

Amature Rocketry

Tested a motor for a co-worker.

 

Average Thrust (lbsf) 1.349 lbsf
Max Thrust 4.98 lbsf
Total Impulse 1.355745 lbs*s
Average Thrust (lbsf) 6.00065097 Newtons
Max Thrust 22.1521437 Newtons
Total Impulse 6.03065422 Newton Sec
Class 6C6-P

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2012-03-02 Rocket Motor 5 Serial 15

Amature Rocketry

Moisture problems. Experimenting with nozzle diameters.

Test Plan located at:
http://public.westmouthbay.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2012%20rocket%20tests/rocket%20motor%20testing%20plan.pdf

 

Average Thrust (lbsf) 3.67657143 lbsf
Max Thrust 6.96 lbsf
Total Impulse 6.61047543 lbs*s
Average Thrust (lbsf) 16.3542045 Newtons
Max Thrust 30.9596225 Newtons
Total Impulse 29.4048597 Newton Sec
Class 29E16-P

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2012-03-02 Rocket Motor 3 Serial 14

Amature Rocketry

Moisture problems. Experimenting with nozzle diameters.

Test Plan located at:
http://public.westmouthbay.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2012%20rocket%20tests/rocket%20motor%20testing%20plan.pdf

 

Average Thrust (lbsf) 5.14 lbsf
Max Thrust 8.57 lbsf
Total Impulse 8.9693 lbs*s
Average Thrust (lbsf) 22.8638591 Newtons
Max Thrust 38.1212593 Newtons
Total Impulse 39.8974342 Newton Sec
Class 40F23-P

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2012-03-02 Rocket Motor 2 Serial 13

Amature Rocketry

Moisture problems. Experimenting with nozzle diameters.

Test Plan located at:
http://public.westmouthbay.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2012%20rocket%20tests/rocket%20motor%20testing%20plan.pdf

 

Average Thrust (lbsf) 5.47774194 lbsf
Max Thrust 11.13 lbsf
Total Impulse 9.27929484 lbs*s
Average Thrust (lbsf) 24.3662101 Newtons
Max Thrust 49.5087066 Newtons
Total Impulse 41.2763599 Newton Sec
Class 41F24-P

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2012-03-02 Rocket Motor 1 Serial 12

Amature Rocketry

Moisture problems.  Sugar rockets are hygroscopic.  Experimenting with nozzle diameters

 

 

Average Thrust (lbsf) 5.768125 lbsf
Max Thrust 10.84 lbsf
Total Impulse 9.45395688 lbs*s
Average Thrust (lbsf) 25.6578983 Newtons
Max Thrust 48.2187224 Newtons
Total Impulse 42.0532954 Newton Sec

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2012-02-26 Rocket Motor Test #11

Amature Rocketry

 

 

average 14.1871429 lbs 63.1075556  newtons
max 31.96  lbs 142.165163  newtons
total impulse 16.5138343  lbs-s 73.4571947  n-s
Class 73F63

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2012-02-26 Test Motor Test #10

Amature Rocketry

Our first 2.2 oz motor. Also our first test with my homemade data acquisition system and at Otway. It is arduino based connected to a in-expensive load cell. Beats the heck out of reading the scale one frame at a time. See the test plan for a more detailed desc of the thrust measurement rig.

Test Plan located at:
Test Plan

A test plan is a good idea. Can hand it to anyone with questions and eliminate a lot of trouble and concern.

Also, note the plywood, placed to protect against most unfortunate incidents.

Test Data

average 9.51 lbs2 42.33 newtons
max 23.18 lbs 103.10 newtons
Total Impulse 12.59 lbs-s 56.01 N-s
Class 50F42

 

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2012-01-31 Rocket Motor Test 3

Amature Rocketry

My favorite video.

This is the test that prompted our forced re-location to our field in Otway. This re-location makes us use less than 2.2 oz of propellant per the ATF regs (have to transport it) for now on. Reminder, if you do this stuff, make sure you understand the laws. I wouldn’t image federal explosives charges would be any fun at all. Recommend talking to your field agent.

The kitty litter end cap failed. We half expected it to. The cheaper kitty litter didn’t feel right when I packed it. It shot a wad of propellant 50-75 ft into the air where it just floated around until it burnt off. Pretty actually. When the end cap failed, it caused the motor to get ejected from the stand. Pretty dangerous actually. Glad we were way the heck away from it.

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2012-01-28 Rocket Motor Test 2

Amature Rocketry

Sugar, KNO3. A G70-P motor.

Total impulse (lbs-sec)
25.02693878

Total impulse (N-sec)
111.3253701

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2012-01-31 Rocket Motor Test 1

Amature Rocketry

Nozzle failure, Nothing to see here. Smoke bomb vice rocket motor.

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2012-01-28 Rocket Test

Amature Rocketry

A kitty litter nozzle. A successful test.

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2012-01-24 Rocket Motor Test

Amature Rocketry

First successful motor. First Cement Nozzle. However, fuel still isn’t where it needs to be, and we had nozzle stability problems.

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2012-01-27 Rocket Motor Test

Amature Rocketry

Another Nozzle failure (aka, complete failure). Nozzle consisted of steel washer held in place via cement and PVC fittings. Steel washer moved 90 degrees and came out. Also bad batch of fuel. Neat light show though. Another smoke bomb.

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2012-01-24 Rocket Motor Test

Amature Rocketry

Another nozzle failure. Too big nozzle. Only got thrust just before it that blown off.

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2012-01-21 Rocket Test 200g, nozzle failure, engine weigh 12.7oz

Amature Rocketry

Nozzle failure. No thrust. Nice smoke bomb though. By the way, I don’t light motors this way any more! I’ve since moved up to electrical ignition using nichrome wire, a straw LOOSELY filled with black powder.

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2012-01-19 Rocket Test

Amature Rocketry

We buried our first rocket engine for safety. PVC Rocket.

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