Has anyone ever used a rocket motor as a retrograde to slow a rocket during decent prior to a parachute for recovery?
Have you ever seen oneIt's ignited with a length of safety fuse.
Burn rate of fuse determines the length.
Delay time is calculated on a cd with old sim software.
Old like in Windows XP.
It would come down nose first with the retro in the noseThat would only be of value if you are choosing to deploy the chute at some point other than apogee.
In which case, the reliability of this "re-entry burn" method would depend on the rocket always coming down vertical, tail first, and fast enough to be aerodynamically stable during "re-entry burn".
Otherwise, you risk going into "cruise missile" burn right before chute deployment, which would defeat the purpose of the experiment.
Have you ever seen one
Thank you,Go for it!
Good luck.
And if you need technical details from the kit feel free to PM me.
Yes. Canon fuse. Check your local gun store. One near me sells it.Have you ever seen one
Thanks Tim. I think I am going to do it with electronicsYes. Canon fuse. Check your local gun store. One near me sells it.
I wonder how much simpler Joe's rocket would get if he landed it nose down.
Yep, in my build pile:
A bigger island would be nice.Does your build pile and your built pile actually fit on the same Hawaiian island?
It would come down nose first with the retro in the nose
After the Retro burn
So that means Joe Barnard is breaking the rules? And his TVC unit he sold is illegal?I think it’s a dangerous idea that if NAR/TRA doesn’t already consider it contrary to safety, then they well should. As Barney Fife says, “You have got to nip it in the bud, nip it in the bud.”
There's another thread about someone trying full retrorocket landing without a parachute:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/propulsive-landing.163043/and it features this video which is all kinds of awesome:
I would think that would present a fire danger and any rocketry organization would prohibit it. The launch area can be protected from fire by the established rules, but where the rocket may land is often up to the fates. Trusting everything to go right during recovery is up to the fates and having an open flame of a rocket motor during descent is a huge risk. What if the parachute tangles and catches fire when the motor is ignited? The landing area could very well have flammable material that a flaming rocket would start a fire.
I think it’s a dangerous idea that if NAR/TRA doesn’t already consider it contrary to safety, then they well should. As Barney Fife says, “You have got to nip it in the bud, nip it in the bud.”
Yes, I had several flights a few years ago. I'll look for photos and post a bit later. I developed it into a two stage rocket. First stage ground launched on legs, second stage separated and ignited. The second stage was a typical rocket configuration and dual recovery. The booster came down "hot", ignited the retro to slow the rocket for 3 mains out of side bays. The booster used 38 mm motors and 29 mm for the retro. The 2nd stage was a G. I think the maximum altitude for the 2nd stage I got was about 6000'. All using electronic timing and altimeters.Has anyone ever used a rocket motor as a retrograde to slow a rocket during decent prior to a parachute for recovery?
Thank you Richard,Yes, I had several flights a few years ago. I'll look for photos and post a bit later. I developed it into a two stage rocket. First stage ground launched on legs, second stage separated and ignited. The second stage was a typical rocket configuration and dual recovery. The booster came down "hot", ignited the retro to slow the rocket for 3 mains out of side bays. The booster used 38 mm motors and 29 mm for the retro. The 2nd stage was a G. I think the maximum altitude for the 2nd stage I got was about 6000'. All using electronic timing and altimeters.
One of the coolest things was the sound of the retro motor. The sound is much different than a motor during ascent. Also, waiting for the retro to fire because there is only a few seconds to spare.
That does not make sense. The fuse is supposed to be lit by the hot gasses from the booster motor, not manually lit on the ground.Interesting photo here of author of review , quote“Photo 10: The author flees the scene” after manually lighting the fuse (the primary boost motor is ignited electronically)
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