Launch Test 83

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This is the fifth flight attempt using the PIRM2 for dual deployment. While the PIRM2 has actually worked every time, the first flight suffered failure due to the drogue chute hanging up on deployment. The next two flights everything worked properly except for premature main chute deployment due to an electronics issue, the fourth flight went as planned, only the main chute again deployed early, this time a result of improper rigging of the recovery harness.

So, with lessons learned. I built a piston to aid in safe ejection of the drogue chute, I rewired my timers to prevent early deployment, and now I've changed the rigging on the recovery harness to prevent the main chute from deploying early.

Poor weather had delayed this launch for some days, and more rain/snow is predicted for the next two days. While the field conditions were a bit wet and muddy, I decided to go for it. It was seasonably warm, with light winds and only some high thin clouds.

This flight again uses a light load of standard KN/SU-PG of about .8 pounds. Two three inch long grains with a one inch core and outside diameter of 1.9". Nozzle throat is .42" diameter.

I set up the pad and controller, prepped the rocket and turned on the electronics.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and ignition.

Nice ignition and boost off the pad.

Here we are just before motor burn out.

It was a little hard to keep the camera on the rocket as it flew directly overhead. I counted to myself, predicting the moment of drogue deployment. At about 9 seconds I saw a puff of smoke, then heard the charge going off. The drogue chute billowed and deployed... no main chute. So far so good. I started counting again, right on schedule I heard a pop, then watched the main chute deploy. Success! Finally, it all worked as intended. I did get it all on tape, but the thin white clouds made it hard to see the deployment on the video.

Here is the rocket coming in about ready to touch down.

The rocket landed safely with no damage. So the fifth flight was the charm. The PIRM2 worked properly, the piston has worked in every flight, the electronics module works properly, the magnetic reed switches for launch detection have continued to work perfectly and the new deployment initiators I've been making have worked on every flight. Not to mention I've now had four flights on this rocket without any damage to the rocket.

I bought a cheap little digital video camera some time ago. I made a cradle so it can be mounted in a rocket body for in flight video. It's not great quality, but it should be fun to play with. For the next flight I intend to fly the rocket with the video camera.