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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Artemis Flights at GLRMR-X – May 15, 2010

May16
by cgould on May 16, 2010 at 12:04 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(May 15, 2010 – Amherst, Ohio)

The Artemis Medium Power Booster project had a productive day with six text book test flights, which causes us to declare the testing phase for the booster over, and we officially have a new launch vehicle!

Six flights were completed during the GLRMR-X (Great Lakes Regional Meet Revisited 10), an annual regional rocket launch meeting.  For the first two test flights, Artemis booster #2 (orange) was set up as a standard “1B” flight trial configuration.  Both flights went as good as the earlier flights with booster #1.  The booster reached its expected 700 foot altitude, and no structural or functional concerns were found, and all systems performed “textbook perfect”.

The next two flights were done with operational configurations.  Artemis booster#2 was configured as a “1E Launch Vechicle”, and test flown on a D12-5 motor to a successful, and beautiful launch.

Artemis 1E liftoff on a D-12

Artemis 1E liftoff on a D-12

Artemis booster #3’s maiden voyage was performed as an Artemis V  boilerplate configuration, and again – a textbook flight…

Artemis V liftoff on an E-9 motor

From there, we stepped up to the E-9 motor, and flew two more flights of the ArtemisV launch vehicle using the E-9, and two E-9 flights on the Artemis 1E Launch Vehicle.   Our first operational flight of the Artemis 1E involved flying an electronic altimeter in the payload section.  The launch was not “straight up”, but angled into the wind due to the fact that the wind speeds were picking up.  The altimeter recorded a height of 845 feet that time.

“Straight up” flights seemed to gain about another 150 or so feet.

Long range zoom of the Artemis V / 003 shortly after parachute deployment.

We’ll post flight log information in the next few days, but all in all, a great day for CPG Aeronautics!

((( )))

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Artemis booster flight tests

May15
by cgould on May 15, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

Saturday, May 15, 2010 (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

We will be conducting flight trials on the two new Artemis boosters today, and possibly early tests of a new Artemis 1E launch vehicle configuration, and Artemis V.

It will be a busy day today, and we’ll post information after the flights have concluded…

The launches are planned for Amherst, OH on the Skybusters field.

((( )))

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Artemis V Dress rehearsal

May15
by cgould on May 15, 2010 at 3:22 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

The Artemis V made an appearance in a dress rehearsal at our rocket headquarters.

The unfinished upper section was fitted to the Artemis booster for stability tests.  The first launch of the ArtemisV configuration is slated for next month.

(((( ))))

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