Largest scale model rocket ever built to launch 25 April

sardak · April 25, 2009, 08:23:16 PM

Successfully launched and recovered today! :clap:

Here is the first video I've found, which unfortunately doesn't follow the rocket after it leaves the launch pad. The launch is nothing like a real Saturn. The thrust to weight ratio of this launch was much higher so it "rockets" off the pad (sorry, I couldn't resist). The video captures the rocket again during its descent.

http://tinyurl.com/crym6f

Here's a second video that captures the entire flight. The rocket landed vertically, engine end down, just like the launch configuration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_bIanFc_yI

Mike

AlphaSigOU · April 25, 2009, 09:22:00 PM

Outstanding! Cluster's Last Stand works!

DC · April 26, 2009, 06:21:54 PM

Here's a better, closer view. You can see the rocket clearly all the way from launch to recovery. There is also a slow-mo replay of the launch at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj4lj6YSwzg&NR=1

Major Lord · April 26, 2009, 07:19:30 PM

Man, launching "D" engines is just not going to be fun anymore after that! It seems all the really insane people do the coolest aerospace stuff!

Major Lord

AlphaSigOU · April 26, 2009, 11:59:46 PM

Quote from: Major Lord on April 26, 2009, 07:19:30 PM
Man, launching "D" engines is just not going to be fun anymore after that! It seems all the really insane people do the coolest aerospace stuff!

With LOTS of money to burn!

Granted, the motors and propellant (I'm assuming they were reloadables) were probably donated but high-power rocketry can quickly spiral out of control in construction and powerplant costs. Awesome wow factor, though!

Scale flight point minus: other than the clouds of steam and partially burned fuel at ground level during liftoff, a Saturn V launch is relatively smokeless (as are all liquid-fueled launches). Congrats to Steve Eve and a dream come true!

Gunner C · April 27, 2009, 01:04:16 AM

Zowie! Wish I could have been there! Anyone know if he's going to upgrade the system (staging, etc)?

AlphaSigOU · April 27, 2009, 01:48:44 AM

Quote from: Gunner C on April 27, 2009, 01:04:16 AM
Zowie! Wish I could have been there! Anyone know if he's going to upgrade the system (staging, etc)?

Don't know, but staging presents some serious challenges to the model and high-power rocketeer.

The ones who really get crafty with live staging on flying scale models are the guys on the S5/S8 (FAI class for scale altitude and scale spacemodeling) teams. The rules essentially rule out most rockets except the Russian Soyuz, Saturn IB/V, Ariane and Space Shuttle. And the Russkies will do everything possible to make their model with operational staging. It's not unusual to see a dozen chutes in the air, and all must land with minimal or no damage.

Eclipse · April 28, 2009, 02:14:22 AM

A success! I'm not a rocket , but it sure looked pretty - it also "landed" standing up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj4lj6YSwzg&NR=1

SilverEagle2 · April 28, 2009, 04:29:37 PM

What was cool was how he separated the beast. An automotive airbag trggered by his altimeter.

Gave me a ton of ideas for my own large project in the planning stages.

SJFedor · April 30, 2009, 10:59:32 PM

Wow. I'm pretty impressed. I expected to be watching that video on failblog. Great job!

PHall · May 01, 2009, 01:22:53 AM

That thing probably would have triggered the Missile Warning System on many military aircraft, with the resulting release of flares and chaff too!

SJFedor · May 02, 2009, 07:28:43 AM

Anyone know how many hoops he had to go through to get permission to do this? From just eyeballing a map, Price MD is inside the ADIZ.

CadetProgramGuy · May 02, 2009, 07:41:41 AM

I'm sure it is just the standard FAA Waiver for Model Rocketry. If I look hard enough I could find it, but it is 245am......

DC · May 02, 2009, 01:12:22 PM

Yeah, as big an powerful as it was, it was only designed to go to 3 - 4,000', which isn't too far out of the normal model rocket altitude envelope for multi-stage 18mm and 24mm rockets.

SilverEagle2 · May 02, 2009, 03:29:15 PM

He probably flew under his HPR clubs standard FAA waiver. Given that the attitude it reached it was a matter of just advising the FAA of the launch window.

Here in Utah we have a standing waiver to 10,000 AGL for all of our scheduled launch days. If they change, we just inform the FAA in advance and they activate it for us.

Now for Hellfire out on the Salt Flats...we also get the ability to call in 50,000 AGL requests and the FAA grants us 15 minute launch windows if workload permits.

They are pretty good to us here.

I am sure the club had a 10,000 AGL waiver in place for that day and he was GTG from there.

Was a sweet launch.

SJFedor · May 02, 2009, 09:01:14 PM

Quote from: SilverEagle2 on May 02, 2009, 03:29:15 PM
He probably flew under his HPR clubs standard FAA waiver. Given that the attitude it reached it was a matter of just advising the FAA of the launch window.

Here in Utah we have a standing waiver to 10,000 AGL for all of our scheduled launch days. If they change, we just inform the FAA in advance and they activate it for us.

Now for Hellfire out on the Salt Flats...we also get the ability to call in 50,000 AGL requests and the FAA grants us 15 minute launch windows if workload permits.

They are pretty good to us here.

I am sure the club had a 10,000 AGL waiver in place for that day and he was GTG from there.

Was a sweet launch.

Yeah, the thing is, I would think the FAA and DHS wouldn't be too keen about anyone launching rockets inside the ADIZ. I'm wondering how they got around that. Launching something out in Utah is a lot different then launching in suburban MD.

Edit: Looks like Price is about 2 miles outside the 30nm ring for DC. So maybe it wasn't an issue.

sardak · May 02, 2009, 11:01:46 PM

Per the launch site website at Higgs Farm, MD
# Our waiver is for 17,000' MSL, 16,900' AGL.
# The waiver will run from 9am to 6pm Saturday & Sunday.

Post launch photos and flight data at
http://www.rocketsmagazine.com/saturn-v-project/
There were several "flight recorders" and a GPS which registered a max acceleration of 6.2 to 7.3 g's, max speed of 300+ MPH and max altitude of almost 4700 ft.

Mike

Gunner C · May 02, 2009, 11:15:30 PM

Is he going to fly it again?

NIN · May 03, 2009, 04:54:23 AM

Quote from: Gunner C on May 02, 2009, 11:15:30 PM
Is he going to fly it again?

With your Apollo capsule signed by Walt Cunningham, Al Bean & Homer Hickam, I'd put the darn thing in a display case in my living room and be done with it!!

SilverEagle2 · May 03, 2009, 02:10:20 PM

QuoteLaunching something out in Utah is a lot different then launching in suburban MD.

Not if the appropriate waiver is in place. We have the same rules as MD.

Not to mention we launch at our regular site we are within 3 miles of a National Security Restriction and when on the Flats, into a very active restricted area.

So in hindsight, you're right...very different.