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I first attempted to
launch this project in October 2005. This is a final photo before
commencing to fill the booster stage tank with Nitrous Oxide. |
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The rocket didn't
fire. We aborted the launch. We discovered the nitrous oxide vent tube was
venting into the motor cavity causing the tank of nitrous oxide to freeze
solid. This was completely unexpected - we had never head of this
happening before. |
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We removed the
booster stage and launched the rocket as a single stage. |
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The next attempt was
June 2007. Here is the rocket under final assembly and preparation. |
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Finally a successful
launch. All going well so far... |
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Getting higher.
Beautiful straight trajectory. |
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The first stage has
separated, and the second stage has fired and is under powered flight.
You can see the white booster still flying. |
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The second stage has
flown off into the distance, and the first stage is still rising under its
own mementum. |
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Now for the recovery,
err, crash discovery.... Recovery systems failed on the booster... |
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Recovery systems
failed on the sustainer... |
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At least the stage
transition can be re-used.... |
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All of the pieces
assembled back in-line. The payload section also survived perfectly in
tact with not even a scratch. |
