Greetings,
New to rocketry and recently launched an Aerotech Mustang on an Aerotech single use F32-8T with a copperhead ignitor. First launch was great. Straight up, chute deployed near apogee (as near as I could tell), easy recovery. Second launch, same set up, resulted in CATO. The video I took shows the chute deploying before the rocket even clears the rod. Rocket went about 7 feet in the air then hit the deck in a firey, smokey mess, scaring the crap out of my 4 year old before coming to rest. The motors forward closure is gone (see pic), the rockets ejection gas baffle and eye hook are gone, and the inside of the rocket is toast. The motor with the 29/24 adapter (also toast, see pic) was ejected at some point. Retention was the stock hook that comes with the kit. The hook is still solidly attached to the rocket. Is it possible I inserted the ignitor too far in and ignited the ejection charge at the same time as the propellant? Is that even physically possible? Do these types of motors fail very often and if so, how do they typically fail? Any insight would be appreciated. Like I mentioned, I'm fairly new to this and trying to determine if I did something wrong or if it was just a case of bad luck . Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. Thanks!
New to rocketry and recently launched an Aerotech Mustang on an Aerotech single use F32-8T with a copperhead ignitor. First launch was great. Straight up, chute deployed near apogee (as near as I could tell), easy recovery. Second launch, same set up, resulted in CATO. The video I took shows the chute deploying before the rocket even clears the rod. Rocket went about 7 feet in the air then hit the deck in a firey, smokey mess, scaring the crap out of my 4 year old before coming to rest. The motors forward closure is gone (see pic), the rockets ejection gas baffle and eye hook are gone, and the inside of the rocket is toast. The motor with the 29/24 adapter (also toast, see pic) was ejected at some point. Retention was the stock hook that comes with the kit. The hook is still solidly attached to the rocket. Is it possible I inserted the ignitor too far in and ignited the ejection charge at the same time as the propellant? Is that even physically possible? Do these types of motors fail very often and if so, how do they typically fail? Any insight would be appreciated. Like I mentioned, I'm fairly new to this and trying to determine if I did something wrong or if it was just a case of bad luck . Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. Thanks!