Small, but big enough to put the 146 lb Prospero into a high enough orbit that it's still there and, once again, with only US$85 million in 2017 dollars spent on the entire rocket program.for scale - only slightly larger than a Taco Truck![/IMG]
Small, but big enough to put the 146 lb Prospero into a high enough orbit that it's still there and, once again, with only US$85 million in 2017 dollars spent on the entire rocket program.
Prospero
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite)
That and the recent Indian Mars orbiter program which cost a total of US$73 million makes me really wonder if we couldn't do our space efforts vastly cheaper, too, if we were to, for instance, eliminate vast layers of bureaucracy and manufacturer price gouging:
Mars Orbiter Mission (India)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Orbiter_Mission
Very cool rocket, and a great GDS candidate. I have a stand (way) off scale one built but unpainted with transparent fins. It was meant to be a stepping stone to a GDS version. I’ll post a pic when I get back to the farm if you’re interested.
Decided to crack on and get this test model ready... Finished the centring rings and taper, modified the stock NC to make room for a streamer and allow cords to be stuffed inside. Calculated some nominal duct position and areas and did the cutting. These centre 2D from outlet of induction tube with area ~1100 mm2 which is approx D^2. Then whitewashed it so I can add details later if all goes well. No launch lug as the last one happily took off perched on the end of a rod.
View attachment 507861
View attachment 507862
View attachment 507863
It's got more or less the right look although by no means exact particularly the NC. Comes in a touch over 25 g so plenty of choice on powering, will probs start with a 1/2A3-2T (with an adapter) for a more constant thrust to see how straight it flies and give the ejection a chance before it tumbles back to earth. Hopefully will launch in the next day or so, possibly tomorrow but looking a bit windy.
Are you planning to video tape the launch?
You bet! But no promises as it will likely just be handheld phone camera.
I've been reading up on GDS and following a few threads (including yours!) so have a broad expectation including the "lofting" and post-thrust tumbling behaviour. Got a bit of a GDS bug at the mo and have been devising a few other test models to better understand the parameters. The small GDS test I did went off fine but had a different problem as the whole induction tube burnt away during thrust.
To counter this I have made the induction tube on this black arrow model quite a bit shorter and also painted the lower ~2cm of the inside in heat resistant paint.
Because this is a very light and small model I'm pretty happy that it would tumble recover altho would like to get the ejection working if I can because any larger model will need this.
Enter your email address to join: