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Highlights of recent developments on the MiniSShot Project
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-Rick Maschek has completed the thermal testing of the various candidate
intumescent paints. Rick's testing indicated that the most effective was
a mixture with all three (Flame Guard, Thermacels, and MgSO4). Here is a
photo of the test setup.
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/painttestsetup.jpg
-As planned, casting of the grains for the upcoming ProtoSShot-M "Short
Stack" motor took place Sunday, August 31st. Participating in the
casting session were Matt Campbell, Rick Maschek, Brent Dougherty and
Chris King. Four grains were successfully cast. Reports indicate that
the new setup worked very well and the vibrating table was very
effective. Unfortunately, the vibrating table motor burnt out after the
first segment was cast.
Here are some photos of the casting session (courtesy Rick Maschek):
Doing a pH check of the highly alkaline potassium nitrate:
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07050-lo.jpg
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07054-lo.jpg
Brent Dougherty preparing the heat shrink tape (to protect casting tube
lip):
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07059-lo.jpg
A pair of casting tubes showing intumescent paint layer on inside surface:
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07058-lo.jpg
Apparatus for casting, less casting tubes:
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07055-lo.jpg
Chris King helping to set up the casting apparatus:
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07063-lo.jpg
Apparatus ready for casting:
http://www.sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc07067-lo.jpg
More photos will be posted in the coming days. A huge thanks to Matt,
Rick, Brent and Chris for their great efforts and devotion to getting
the casting done on schedule, and also to Sam Grado for his effort to
ship the casting tubes and to ensure they arrived in time.
-Hans reports that he has spent considerable time calibrating the motion
sensors on the Flight Computer. Flight computer #2 has been delivered
for the Draupner DRE-1 launch on September 8th. Chute Controller #1 is
undergoing final check out for the same flight. This flight is to be
considered as an "opportunity" to fly the main computer whereas the
Chute Controller will have the full and sole responsibility for the
onboard recovery system pyrotechnics. The expected altitude is around
3.7km. Also flying will be two GPS receivers and Hans' Aiptek camera.
-With less than 24 hours left in the "Launch Pad" fund raising campaign,
we have succeeded in crossing the $1500 threshold to "clear the launch
tower" and in doing so, we have achieved our lofty goal! It was
important that the campaign be a success, for without such campaigns and
other fund-raising ventures, reaching Space would remain a dream, rather
than be our destiny.
A special thank you to our latest donors:
Craig Strudwicke
Hans Olaf Toft
Dustin Brown
http://www.sugarshot.org/fundraiser.html
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Project
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