The EX-CATO

This project is pretty involved... Complete scratch built for experimenting with GPS guided recovery. Features two parachute bays utilized as parafoil (main) and backup (36" standard), custom flight computer with some interesting features (live tracking in Google Earth, GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, 70cm transceiver, remote ignition)



Pretty cool paint job too... First time trying flames, turned out well and fits the name well.



The parafoil is a 2.3m monster that I'm sure to have issues deploying, hence the backup chute.



Here's a picture during construction showing the fin can coming together...

Flight computer info here: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?127774-Flight-Computer-with-live-Google-Earth-Tracking

Lots of info at my project page: https://hackaday.io/project/6381-high-power-experimental-rocket-platform

Nice project!

I like the guided recovery idea. I'd think the parafoil would be a tight pack! Subscribed...

op: op: op:

Subscribed.

jrkennnedy2 said:

I like the guided recovery idea. I'd think the parafoil would be a tight pack! Subscribed...

Click to expand...

The Parafoil while folded fits about perfect into the body, the real issue is to get it out untangled and having it inflate. I've been watching videos on folding real parachutes, and believe I'm going about it the right way, but I just don't trust it yet. Hence the backup parachute.

If all goes well the first launch of the rocket will be at the end of this month at the next MDRA sod launch, but it will be a flight test without parafoil to determine flight characteristics. It's flying under experimental motors also, so a lot going on in this build.

So after many attempts at stuffing the parafoil into the body I've concluded I need a longer laundry bay. I've constructed a new body with a 12" parachute bay that is piston ejected.



Regrettably I can't paint yet due to humidity...

Due to the increased weight of the new design I needed a larger parachute for my reserve in case the parafoil fouled, so I'm constructing my own 14 gore semi hemisphere 44" parachute.

Parachute construction thread here: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showt...ion-of-14-gore-44-quot-semi-hemispheric-chute

Finally painted the new bottom. Gloss black is so dark the fins melt into the body, looks real nice. I'm working on sewing a custom parafoil next.