Itokawa Explorer Post 1010
Lockheed Martin Exploring Program
Launch - October 18, 2014
Orion Spacecraft

Project Home

On Saturday, October 18, members from the Post traveled to the National Pike Park MD launch site for test flights. The day was very nice, some gusts around 10mph. We used the NARHAMS launch rails. We conducted 10 flights.

Objectives

  • Practice the process of launching rockets .
  • Use up some old rockets and motors.
  • Team 15265 will test a 6 fin designn.
  • Team 15267 will test a two stage rocket.
  Connecting Igniter  Launch

Lessons

  • Team 15265 launched their 6 fin rocket twice. Both were somewhat unstable. The first flight was under powered with the E9. The second flight was wild and int the trees. They are making another rocket.
  • We launched a red rocket from last year. With no altimeter and no video, we have no notes on the flight. We attributed the flight to Team 15266..
  • Team 15267 flew a two stage rocket. It worked, but may have had too large a chute. It was left in a tree. We didn't recover the altimeter.
  • While we learned about the launch process, we need to do much more..

Launches

Rocket Engine Rail Cargo Recovery Weight Results Comments
Six Fin 1
Team 15265
E9-6 6ft 0d 1 egg,
15" Round
6x60" Streamer
?g
?g
?ft,
?sec
video, squirrely ascent, somewhat unstable
Six Fin 2
Team 15265
E20-7W 6ft 0d 1 egg,
15" Round
6x60" Streamer
?g
?g
?ft,
?sec
video, squirrely ascent, somewhat unstable
Red
Team 15266
E20-7W 6ft 0d 1 egg, 12" Round
6x60" Streamer
?g
?g
?ft,
?sec
no video, nice landing
Two Stage
Team 15267
D12-0,
D12-3
6ft 0d 1 egg,
altimeter 3?
18" X-Chute ?g
?g
?ft,
?sec
video, staging worked nice, but landed in a tree, not recovered, lost altimeter

Altimeter Data (no altimeter returned)

Pictures

  Two Rockets Ready                                                                     Interesting Landing
  Rockets Ready     Landing

Copyright 2015 Explorer Post 1010
Updated: January 22, 2015