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Highlights of recent developments on the MiniSShot Project
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- On Saturday afternoon, the Phoenix test rocket was launched. The
objective of the Phoenix flight was to conduct a "proving" flight of the
MiniSShot avionics and recovery system. The actual MiniSShot "Payload
Capsule" consisting of the avionics section, nosecone and recovery
compartment were flown. The booster section was purpose-made by Rick
Maschek and consisted of a former ProtoSShot motor casing fitted with
fins and an Aerotech J420R rocket motor.
The weather at the FAR site was nearly ideal. The rocket was launched
from a new tower, and following a nominal burn of the motor, rapidly
climbed to apogee of about 3000 feet (900 m.). At this point the
deployment system was triggered by the on-board electronics, and the
Pyro Separation Device functioned nominally, and kicked the booster away
from the payload capsule, releasing the drogue chutes. The booster
parachute immediately deployed and the booster descended safely. The
Payload Capsule drogue, however, failed to unfurl. It did manage to
slow the descent. The capsule fell in a sideways orientation, and hit
the ground at a moderate rate of speed. Post-flight analysis showed that
the main chute was triggered during descent, but the limping drogue did
not have sufficient drag force to extract it. Examination of the payload
capsule indicated no apparent damage to the contents. However, two
couplers suffered some damage from the impact. It was decided to cancel
the MiniSShot launch planned for the next day as a result of this damage
and to allow for a thorough check-out of the avionics package. Overall,
the flight was very nearly a complete success and did serve to largely
prove the avionics and recovery systems.
Videoclip of flight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8nH_AHrHY0
Videoclip of touchdown site of Payload Capsule:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FktolbV1N1U
Videoclip of Paul Avery inspecting unfurled drogue chute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9jSDsZRq5Y
(videos courtesy Rick Maschek)
Chris King and Paul Avery installing nosecone shroud:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04050.jpg
Setting up the launch tower:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img_0258.jpg
Phoenix mounted in launch tower:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04059.jpg
Closeup of SS2S decal:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img_0269.jpg
Payload Capsule touchdown in a desert bush:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04068.jpg
Booster touchdown site:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img_0273.jpg
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04096.jpg
Rick photographing booster following touchdown:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img_0276.jpg
Closeup of Pyro Separation Device mounted on booster:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04098.jpg
Closeup of deformed Payload Capsule coupler:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04108.jpg
Search And Rescue (SAR) team that kindly offered their services to
track and recover MiniSShot and who participated in the Phoenix launch:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc04111.jpg
(photos courtesy Rick Maschek and Barbara Bailey)
- Good data was obtained from the Chute Controller, Main Computer and
Parrot altimeter, indicating all systems performed nominally. The only
malfunction was with the GPS system, caused by a broken wire that
occurred during installation of the nosecone shroud (this was discovered
prior to launch).
Graph of altitude versus time from Chute Controller:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/phoenix_cc_graph.gif
Graph of acceleration versus time from Featherweight Parrot:
http://sugarshot.org/downloads/phoenix_parrot_graph.gif
- Special thanks goes out to Matt Campbell for donating the Aerotech
J420R reload for the Phoenix flight.
- A new launch date for MiniSShot will be decided upon within the next
few days. The earliest date is two weeks from now.
- Following the flight, Rick Maschek and Paul Avery static tested a
couple of rocket motors. Rick's motor may be used in the future for
flight testing of Sugar Shot hardware.
Videoclip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_dJaH1SEGw
- On Saturday, Richard gave a presentation on amateur rocketry and the
Sugar Shot to Space program at the University at Buffalo North Eastern
Conference of Space.
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Donations are urgently needed to fund the Non-Profit Organization
application
process. We need your support. http://www.sugarshot.org/sponsors.html#Donors
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