X6 Nesaru final ground tests successful: Weather is a concern for launch

Oct26
by cgould on October 26, 2012 at 5:40 AM
Posted In: XR6 (Perseus V) high power booster.

(October 25, 2012 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

The final ground tests for the X6-Nesaru rocket’s main parachute deployment system was performed earlier today, and I am happy to say, the test was successful.

This clears the way for the maiden launch for X6 Nesaru rocket “Zephyr” this weekend.

The latest weather forecasts for Saturday does not look good, as it calls for rain all day.  There is a chance Sunday could work as the alternate launch day, but that ultimately depends on the exact arrival time of the three weather systems converging on Ohio.   As of right now, it’s depending a lot on what hurricane Sandy does as it lands on the east coast.

Final GO / NO GO call may occur as late as Saturday night or early Sunday Morning.

In the meantime, “Zephyr” is on the checkout bench bring prepped for its maiden launch.

Zephyr on the workbench.

 

The countdown starts now for a possible Sunday launch of Zephyr.

Here are some stats on the maiden launch, and my Level 1 certification attempt.

Rocket: X6 Nesaru “Zephyr”

Motor used: CTI H-255

Liftoff Weight: 60 Oz (3.75 lbs)

Maximum expected altitude: 2100 Feet.

Maximum expected speed: 350 MPH

Camera on-board: Yes.

(((  )))

 

 

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X6 Nesaru maiden flight this Saturday?

Oct23
by cgould on October 23, 2012 at 2:21 AM
Posted In: XR6 (Perseus V) high power booster.

(October 22, 2012 – Cuyahoga Falls)

If all goes well, and the final ground tests are successful, the timing of motors, and materials arrive on time, we may have the Maiden Launch of the X6 Nesaru rocket this Saturday!   If successful, not only will be cool, but I will walk away with my Level 1 certification.  After the successful completion, the rocket will be named “Zephyr II”.

Cornelius and the X6 Nesaru rocket.

The first flight is planned to launch on a CTI (Cesaroni Technologies) H255 motor, which is expected to place the rocket about 2500 or more feet in the air.  Should be exciting!

More info to come!

((( )))

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Featured Picture: Endeavour over Los Angeles

Sep30
by cgould on September 30, 2012 at 5:51 AM
Posted In: Featured Picture

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The very late report on Nala1’s recent missions…

Sep30
by cgould on September 30, 2012 at 5:38 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio –

Artemis Launch System rocket Nala1 had two spectacular flights a couple months ago.

The July 28th missions proved that the rocket is OK for “tumble recovery” during the first of two recovery events.  This involves the rocket separating at apogee, and tumbling in a flat spin until reaching a pre-determined height above the ground (400 feet) to deploy the main parachute for a soft landing.

Both missions were absolutely wonderful, though the second  flight (ALS-049) had a slight mishap…operator error on my part.  I used a parachute deployment charge that didn’t have enough black powder to fully deploy the parachute.  The rocket landed fine with no damage to the rocket.  ALS-049 returned some dramatic pictures from its flight, though!

First we have a great shot showing the flame tail whipping around behind the fins…

ALS-049 launch

Since ALS-049 launched during a light drizzle, there was this breath-taking photo as Nala catches a view of a rainbow only visible from 1053 feet in the air…

Mission ALS-049 rainbow

Then there is the cool view of the booster separation at apogee…

ALS-049 apogee

And these series of shots showing the business end of the parachute ejection baffle just after event #2 occurs…

ALS-048 and ALS049 were a great couple of missions!

The next mission(s) is scheduled for October 13th.  Nala rocket is ready for two more milestones.

1) The first flight using a CTI rocket motor (I’ve only used Aerotech re-loadable motors on my higher power flights so far…)

2) The next flight also marks a milestone as it will be the 50th launch of the Artemis Launch System.  (ALS-050)

More info as the date gets closer!

((( )))

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Nala1 mission 6 update

Jul22
by cgould on July 22, 2012 at 5:21 PM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(Sunday, July 22, 2012 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

As I prepare Nala1 for mission #7 this weekend (July 28th), I realized that in all of the craziness of the past couple of weeks, I didn’t create a blog entry for mission 6 yet!

Nala1 mission 6 (ALS-047) was a picture perfect flight, lifting off gracefully from the MTMA high power launch pad, and soaring to a height of 1063 feet.  Top speed was 249 MPH.

The specific goal of this mission was to test apogee recovery using just a streamer for a “drogue” parachute.  If the payload section of Nala1 could stay at a higher position from the lower booster section, the test would be a success, which is was!   The end result of this test was to try to further minimize “wind drift” from apogee (1063 feet) to the altitude of the main parachute deployment (400 feet).  This was accomplished.

At recovery, the main parachute was deployed near the only rocket catching tree in the field, and so I had to recover Nala1 from that tree.  No damage to the rocket from that mission at all.

This weekend’s scheduled mission will test an apogee decent with no streamer or parachute (drogueless).  If this looks good, then all future flights will be drogueless for Nala1, and for the next generation of “Harmon Flying Field rockets”.

There is your quick update on mission ALS-047!

 

((( )))

 

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