Imma firin mah rockets

[MarsMartianMan]

And postin in this thread.

Flight computer

Inside of housing (some parts not present, due to the fact that I had to remove some for a different project).

Engines.

Entire rocket (and my breakfast).


The entire project took me a week to finish. Sadly, when I launched this bad boy, the parachute and wadding caught fire. It hit the ground and knocked out the computer (broken switch), and looked like a smoldering wreck when I found it.
Anyways, I'll post a video of the launching soon.

[DrXThirst]

WTF did you eat!?

[MarsMartianMan]

Cornbread muffin and a glass of milk.

[diamondbackk60]

special cornbread? lol

[Cuda]

I have those same cups. They're a bitch to clean out. I like your rocket.

[JK-47]

Nice job.
Can't wait to see it in action.

[MarsMartianMan]

Yeah, it was my first launch in front of an audience.

[Yodel]

God, that thing's huge! Why didn't you fin-stable-ize it? Here's the robot with the microcontroller I'm looking to use as a Flight Control System.
This is the setup I have so far. Sorry for the quality; it was taken on my iPhone. AA battery for size comparison

Not pictured are the four Micro Servos, the Accelerometer, and the GPS Locator. Of course, I'm not going to jump right in and build such a complex machine just yet-- I plan to make some simpler models to get back into the swing of things.

My questions are:

Is it possible to launch in a field with 2-4 inches of icy and brittle snow?
Will a normal D/E engine be able to support such a large rocket, or will I have to switch to plugged engines?
What sort of wind conditions will significantly affect a rocket's flight path, and how do I compensate?

[Zieon_Eslador]

My questions are:

Is it possible to launch in a field with 2-4 inches of icy and brittle snow?
Will a normal D/E engine be able to support such a large rocket, or will I have to switch to plugged engines?
What sort of wind conditions will significantly affect a rocket's flight path, and how do I compensate?

1. If you do, make sure it is stable. A rocket tipping over towards you is a scary sight...
2. By large how much weight do you mean?
3. ...? I dunno.

[Yodel]

Good to have another rocket guy on the forum!

I haven't calculated the rocket's dimensions just yet, but I know it has to have a diameter of at least 3" at some area on the rocket to accommodate the SumoBot's microcontroller. I will figure out the weight specifics if I can find the weight of all of the Flight Control System's parts.

[MarsMartianMan]

God, that thing's huge! Why didn't you fin-stable-ize it?

I did, it's just that the fins were plastic, and they melted off.

[Zieon_Eslador]

Good to have another rocket guy on the forum!

I haven't calculated the rocket's dimensions just yet, but I know it has to have a diameter of at least 3" at some area on the rocket to accommodate the SumoBot's microcontroller. I will figure out the weight specifics if I can find the weight of all of the Flight Control System's parts.

It might just depend on how much space you have, atleast 11 centimeters for an E-class and 8.5 for a D-class. If you have the room I would use a low burn time E engine. Weight will most likely not be an issue with that much thrust and it is slightly easier to recover.

*E's should have a long delay for the ejection charge normally, but check just in case. You don't want a near instant deployment at the heights you will probably be getting.

[Yodel]

*E's should have a long delay for the ejection charge normally, but check just in case. You don't want a near instant deployment at the heights you will probably be getting.

How substantial is the ejection charge? I was thinking that the risk of frying the FCS would be greatly diminished if I diverted it into two smaller parachutes on either side of the body with an aluminum wedge. Or it might just make the rocket explode.

[xbox]

Why would you glue in one-time use rockets?

[MarsMartianMan]

Because I screwed up on the clips that were supposed to hold them in, glue was the only option. Besides, there was a fire that totally ruined the gas transfer tubes. Even if I managed to get new engines in, it would be easier to just make a new rocket.

[Zieon_Eslador]

*E's should have a long delay for the ejection charge normally, but check just in case. You don't want a near instant deployment at the heights you will probably be getting.

How substantial is the ejection charge? I was thinking that the risk of frying the FCS would be greatly diminished if I diverted it into two smaller parachutes on either side of the body with an aluminum wedge. Or it might just make the rocket explode.

Quite substantial.

[Yodel]

Quite substantial.

What if I use a plugged Engine? Don't those not have an ejection charge?

[Zieon_Eslador]

Quite substantial.

What if I use a plugged Engine? Don't those not have an ejection charge?

I was thinking about that, but I would hate to be under your rocket if it doesn't have a recovery mechanism...

[Yodel]

Quite substantial.

What if I use a plugged Engine? Don't those not have an ejection charge?

I was thinking about that, but I would hate to be under your rocket if it doesn't have a recovery mechanism...

I'm sure that I can rig something to serve the same purpose, like a servo that can pop open the nose cone, releasing the chute.