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I have an idea for a 7 motor cluster using a large central motor surrounded by 6 smaller motors. Launch occurs with the central motor, 6 seconds later three of the smaller engines air start, and 4 seconds after that, the other three.
Not sure what to call it - clustered staging or parallel staging, but all motors remain in the rocket, there is no staging that falls away.
This is a 6" rocket with a central 54mm "booster", and 6x 29mm "staging rockets". The booster motor is 50% of the total impulse, followed by 2 groups of 25%. All together just short of an M.
I realize this is a complex project, and it might be a couple of years before I can build and fly it.
I would welcome any advice, especially in the following areas:
Not sure what to call it - clustered staging or parallel staging, but all motors remain in the rocket, there is no staging that falls away.
This is a 6" rocket with a central 54mm "booster", and 6x 29mm "staging rockets". The booster motor is 50% of the total impulse, followed by 2 groups of 25%. All together just short of an M.
I realize this is a complex project, and it might be a couple of years before I can build and fly it.
I would welcome any advice, especially in the following areas:
- Is there a reliable manner of air starting 3 HPR motors simultaneously? Are there ways of increasing the reliability using dipped igniters or other pyrogens?
- Is there a good way to keep the igniters in their place, and not be sucked out of the motor, as they are open at the bottom of the rocket during ascent?
- Redundant electronics, any thoughts? I was hoping to use two Altus Metrum TeleMega's because it has a tilt sensor, which I can use to prevent 2nd or 3rd stage ignition in case the rocket isn't reasonably vertical. Pretty standard practice for multi-stage rockets, especially large heavy projects like this.
- What kind of circuitry can I use to ignite 3 motors simultaneously. I realize most altimeters aren't designed to fire more than a single igniter, but it could trigger a simple circuit that is designed to fire multiple igniters.
- Any other thoughts?