TDFwaterrockets: June 2009

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

2 stage rocket CRASH!!!

The new 2 stage rocket was all complete until it was launched. On the launch pad it fell over and launched at a 45 degree angle, this was caused by one launch tube that wasn't secured in place. The launch tube came out of the launch and blocked one of the nozzles, this made it fly sideways.

The only good news about this launch is that the staging mechanism worked, you can't see it in the video but if you listen carefully you can hear it separate. The next launch probably won't be for another few days because the booster will need to be rebuilt, luckily the sustainer was almost undamaged although it was fired towards the ground at 80mph. The rocket still managed to reach 111ft.

Sunday, 7 June 2009

2 stage rocket

This our first 2 stage rocket and will hopefully break our personal record. The 2 stage mechanism is controlled by a Flight Computer that we bought from Aircommand water rockets and the release mechanism is pretty much the same. There is a servo that pulls the release on a garden hose connector and launches the sustainer. The launcher is very simple and it works, there are 3 male hose connectors that are being released by elastic bands and a piece of wood stops them from releasing until launch.

If none of this makes any sence to you, then watch this video:

If this links doesn't work click here

Details:

Booster

Capacity: 12L

Water: 3L

Weight: 745g (1075g with sustainer)

Nozzle: 3 x 7mm

sustainer

Capacity: 0.5L

Water: 0.2L

Weight: 140g

Nozzle: 5mm

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

Update June (cluster project)

Because of the windy conditions lately, we have be doing some thinking and have made a new launcher for a cluster rocket. The launcher is very simple and will hold high pressure (110psi+), I will update some pictures in a later update. The rocket will be a 2 stage and the rocket dart will be the second stage, the dart will be pressurised. The booster will be 12litres and will have 3 nozzles.

This is a 3d design of the rocket.

Details (these are only estimations)

Sustainer