Comanche XR9C passes successful ground tests…Possible (closer) launch date…

Jul05
by cgould on July 5, 2013 at 2:01 AM
Posted In: XR9-C (Comanche) High Power Launch Vehicle

(Cuyahoga Falls, OH – July 4, 2013)

Earlier today the Comanche XR9C rocket successfully passed its ground tests, clearing it for its maiden flight.

The completed ComancheXR9C rocket.

The completed ComancheXR9C rocket.

“Officially”, the maiden flight for this 6 foot tall rocket is scheduled for late October / early November.

However…

The Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) made an interesting ruling a few days ago.

TRA has allowed for all members of the National Association of  Rocketry (NAR) — which I am a member — to fly at any of their prefectures’ launches.  Previously NAR members could only fly at specific types of TRA launch events.

“Prefecture” can be thought of as TRA’s name for their rocketry clubs.

TRA members are typically involved in “research rocketry”.  This can involve experimental designs that NAR members are not insured to pursue, such as home made rocket fuel, some types of rocket designs, etc.  Many of the flight days at TRA locations are devoted to experimental rocketry, and NAR members were previously banned from those events.

Now, NAR members are allowed to fly during TRA research rocketry days provided they stick to what is allowed under NAR rules, and not try to partake in research rocketry.  Many of the fields that are available to launch larger high power rockets during the summer months are usually in use by TRA Prefectures.

What this means: there is now a larger range of fields that are available for me to fly High Power Rocketry (HPR) during the summer months.

This means that the maiden flight could be sooner than the “official” dates, but possibly in a different state.

This is exciting news!  More later…

I will publish more information on the XR9C rocket in the upcoming weeks!

((( )))

 

 Comment 

Featured Picture: Comanche XR9 is showing her colors!

Jun16
by cgould on June 16, 2013 at 6:40 AM
Posted In: Featured Picture, XR9-C (Comanche) High Power Launch Vehicle

(Cuyahoga Falls, OH – June 15, 2013)

The Comanche XR9 is showing part of her color scheme!

The booster section is nearing completion, and has received it’s first coatings of paint….also is sporting the American flag on the fins!

Comanche XR9 booster sporting its first colors!

Comanche XR9 booster sporting its first colors!

 

1 Comment

Artemis Nala1 mission updates

Jun16
by cgould on June 16, 2013 at 6:35 AM
Posted In: XR2 (Artemis) Medium power booster Project

(Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

OK, SO I’ve been horrifically late posting this update.  It’s due to the latest Nala mission that required a LOT of data sifting…moreon that later.

ALS-052, April 27, 2013 – Harmon field.

The first of two reports…Nala1 Mission ALS-052.  This was the most picture perfect launch almost ever.  Flying on an Aerotech F-40, Nala rocket flew straight as an arrow to a height of 966 feet with a maximum velocity of 225 MPH.  I did not video this at all.  Just watched, and it was wonderful!

Mission ALS-053 was next.  Same day.

This flight was as strange as it gets.  Nala1’s F-40 motor chuffed a bit (not unusual), came up to pressure, and the mission was underway.  Then about 100 feet or so in the air, Nala1 suddenly “turns” almost 45 degrees, and flies off at an angle towards dense brush!  Recovery took a while as it was tough to find the upper half of Nala rocket in the VERY VERY dense dry brush.  But we did it.

This flight WAS recorded both on the ground, and with Nala’s on-board camera.

What I found (after closely analyzing the video for quite some time) was that the motor began to “chuff” again when Nala1 was halfway up the launch rod…then again after departure…this time the chuffing was so bad the motor nearly stopped burning…at that point, the rocket began to decelerate and FALL.  At this point, the motor came back to life again..but Nala1 was no longer pointed straight up…she was at a 45 degree angle.  The remainder of the burn took her south of the flying field, and over the dense brush, where the parachutes were deployed.

Maximum altitude was only 620 feet, and she was moving pretty slow, about 160 MPH peak speed.

Design changes

After ALS-052, Nala1 was brought into the shop for some design changes to incorporate some of the new ways I’ve been handling main parachute baffle designs in the Nesaru and Comanche rockets.  This design will greatly improve Nal1’s sometimes problematic baffle system with a much more reliable design.   Nala1 should be back on the launch schedule late July / early August.

More later!

((( )))

 

1 Comment

Featured Picture: Introducing Comanche XR-9C

May26
by cgould on May 26, 2013 at 10:10 PM
Posted In: CG's Rocket Thoughts..., Featured Picture, XR9-C (Comanche) High Power Launch Vehicle

(Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

Fresh from the workshop, Here I am holding the Comanche XR-9C rocket.  All the hardware is in place, it is now a complete rocket.  For the next couple of months, some more internal detail work left to go as well as the painting of the rocket left to go.

Cornelius and the Comanche XR-9C rocket…

Maiden launch is set for October 2013.  Comanche joins Nesaru XR-6 as a member of my Level 1 high power rocket fleet!

Here is the design concept.  Looks like the one!

A computer rendering of the finished Comanche XR9C rocket design…

(((  )))

 Comment 

Flight reports…Nesaru flights NLS-004 and NLS-005

May25
by cgould on May 25, 2013 at 3:07 AM
Posted In: XR6 (Perseus V) high power booster.

(Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

Well…I’m a bit late on one report, and on time for another.

NLS-004 recap

On Sunday, May 5, 2013 Nesaru mission NLS-004 was held in Amherst, OH at the GLRMR 2013 meet.   Winds were quite brisk, averaging around 17 MPH, with a few gusts about 10 MPH higher from time to time.  Definitely a day to test the aerodynamic characteristics to the max limits of the rules, for sure!

Based on flight data on the Perseus boosters (a design that Nesaru is based very closely on), I was expecting to see very favorable results.  The flight went without a hitch, and Nesaru plowed a straight line into the heavens even through the various layers of higher velocity wind shear forces on the way up.

The problem on that mission was this:  Human Error.  I did not tighten the screw switch down enough during launch preparation.  This switch powers the flight computer systems on board Nesaru.  The vibrations of launch caused the screw to back out enough to not give reliable power when the rocket reached apogee.  Nesaru fell about 150 feet, at which point the backup (time delay) charges activated, deploying the parachute, guiding the rocket to a safe landing.

No one (except me) realized that things didn’t go as planned.  Just the way you want it to be.  The crowd at the spectator line cheered and clapped over the spectacular flight.  Whew!

There were no pictures as I wanted to just watch this flight.  Motor: CTI H135, apogee: 1550 feet.

NLS-005 was two weeks later, same location.  (May 18, 2013).  This  flight was the opposite of NLS-004.  Not only did things go well, it was also the most photographed launch of any of my rocket launches.   My brother was there to take still pictures as well as the usual videos of launch both from the ground and from on-board Nesaru.

Nesaru is prepped for launch

The flight was totally text book.  Or should I use the favorite word from the commercial rocket programs these days… The mission was “nominal”.  🙂

Nesaru once again flew on a CTI H135 motor, reaching a top speed of about 348 MPH, and a peak altitude of 1440 feet.

NLS-005 Liftoff! This shot captures Nesaru as she clears the launch rail.

Analysis of all data as well as flight videos shows absolutely no anomalies during flight.   Besides the human error element of two flights, and the poor alkaline battery performance on the first flight, the performance of the rocket itself on all 5 flights have been absolutely superb.

Video frame capture of NLS-005 liftoff.

 

Liftoff as seen from Nesaru

 

The next flight for Nesaru is scheduled for sometime in October 2013.  There is a chance I may get to fly her at some point at an out of town (or out of state) launch site at some point, but for now, the official next launch date is October 2013.

The X6 Nesaru rocket is totally dis-assembled for post flight cleaning and inspection.

The post-flight clean up duty has begun on Nesaru, and it will continue for the next few days.

More later!

((( )))

 Comment