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RocketZODIAC CRUISER
Launches1
Flight StatusSuccess
LocationBunnell, Fl
Event
20161112.pngNEFAR-Bunnell Blast-TRA Research Launch 2016-11-12
Altitude9813 ft
2991.00m
Expected9454 ft
2881.58m
Velocity792 MPH
1275.12km/h
Velocity Exp.792 MPH
1275.12km/h
Gs Expected24.3
Wind Speed4.0MPH
6.44km/h
Weight6.83lb.
3.10kg
StageMotor
1 K940-18-WHITE THUNDER

ZODIAC CRUISER- SECOND FLIGHT

2016-11-12 14:27:00Z

Insane Rocketry

Likefileicon launch20161112_113623_943.csv

Stratologger

Likefileicon Stratologger I Main.pf2 Likefileicon Stratologger II Back Up.pf2

Description

Rocket is on bench, preparing for a second flight, did not get any data from the first flight, so i will launch this rocket again in October, 2016. Love that chute release device, works great. this time the altitude will be close to 10 K and probably close to mach speed also. Rocket has no damage on his first flight and came down great with the chute release. But i will make the separation between drogue and main chute a but farther away from each other. Experienced flyers told me that it might get tangled when close together. Selecting a few motors for now, my plan is the K515 SK to 9500 feet but Bernie did not had that motor last time and I doubt that he will have it this time.. he made a recent order but still he does not seem to be up to date recently anymore. So a Red or Green might do as well... And also I'm always way under the sim calculation anyway. Also fixed the seating of the Iphone better, a little fiberglass holder broke off last time, will also apply some soft material for the phone protection.

Update 10/05/2016 - Launch scrubbed, Hurricane Matthew is approaching and is a category 4 right now at the southern tip of Florida. Very powerful and might bring damage to the state.

Update 11/09/2016 - Prepped the rocket, only charges made and rocket inspected,... All electronics will be charged today, like camera's, Iphone, chute release, tag...

Update 11/09/2016 - Late night stratologgers test. All seems to work and responds great.

Update 11/10/2016 - Added 40 grams BB into the nose cone. just to make sure that the CG and CP are at the right spot. Did not had any issues so far butjustin case when flying bigger motors. Did some dry prepping and all fit in the Avionics bay... folded the chutes, and Z tied the shock cord with rubber bands already, still need the chute release... will be done the morning before I take off to the field.

Update 11/11/2016 - Rocket is mostly prepped, still have to do the final touches on the field, like the chute release and tag and charges and the Iphone in the Avionics bay. Looking forward to a spectacular flight at mach speed and around 9800 feet ! This time I have a matching 4 grain casing in the rocket so that might sim is closer to the real thing.

Update 11/12/2016 - Launch day, Bernie did not had the motor I wanted so I used the K940 C star. Was in the first line of launch at pad 9. But the rocket did not fire the first time, Probably Greg at the controls did something wrong, went out to the rocket to inspect and there was nothing wrong I could find. So Greg tried again and it took off like a blast ! straight up white smoke ! Went into the clouds. Recovery was really a pain. Far away in the woods. Long walk into tall grass and a field that was covered with all tree stumps and branches all over and up and downs.. Looks like that use that field for cutting trees or so... So the GPS took me into the wood for a bit, was puzzled, walking around the gps location for minutes and looking into the tree tops, could spot nothing at all. Then I took a turn and looked at the ground and there it was. Main was not deployed !!! Chute release did not go off. I'm sure I switched it on. But next time I wait a bit longer to see that green light flashing to make sure that's on. All went well . Video looks great with 3 rotation around mach speeds. Very happy with the flight to add on another 9813 feet !!!

Update 11/29/2016 - As Tim and Jason mentioned, there was an issue with stratologger I Main - some significant power-loss!!!! Will check the wire and connections !

 

Comments

frewi80
Like 2016-11-29 21:00:29Z

Taking the setup apart and rewire it, Battery seems a bit loose also in the holder...

esotericdude on 2016-11-30 01:32:52Z wrote:

Did some research on your data file and found:

It lost power 0.90 until 1.2 seconds into flight.

It lost power again 23.8 - 24.8 seconds into flight - power then slowly recovered until 25.8 seconds into flight , meaning it shorted there. That's right near apogee so it could be the igniter welded together. That could also indicate weak battery or loose connections. Based off of losing power 0.90 until 1.2, I would guess somewhere a poor or corroded contact - battery, wiring, circuit board, or switch, or a combo. It could also be unshielded wires touching eachother (metal on metal) causing a ground-out.

It then lost power again when in hit the ground hard.

esotericdude
Like 2016-11-29 21:40:30Z

Cool, let me know if you find any smoking guns for what caused it.

This reminds me I need to add a voltage graph to my sets displayed.

 

frewi80
Like 2016-11-30 12:40:04Z

Jason, actually no smoking guns... I used that same setup in Lightning at the Turkey Launch... I checked that issue out before the launch day, I was aware of that irregular voltage drop. What I could find is that the battery sits kinda loose in the holder so I fixed that and also checked the wires and did a shake test with the statologger software and it seems ok. Will use zipties all the way, but then I hope to slide the setup into the Av Bay with those Zipties.. I used masking take real tight because I have barely space to slide the setup in there, but will use the ZipTies. Also squeezed the connectors of the battery holder a bit tighter so that will grab the terminals much better in there. I do take the batteries out all the time after every launch... Thanks for the heads up.

esotericdude on 2016-11-30 02:40:30Z wrote:

Cool, let me know if you find any smoking guns for what caused it.

This reminds me I need to add a voltage graph to my sets displayed.

 


Video


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