Hal8472
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- Joined
- Nov 23, 2012
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I know there have been lots of discussion about how fast your rocket descent can be but I have found people don't go into enough detail on their rule of thumb. I would like to know more about how fast you can come down with specific details on ground conditions and construction design because I think there is a huge variation. Whether you are coming down with a cardboard construct on pavement or carbon fiber onto long grass, there is a huge difference. I am assuming we need to talk at least about Fiberglass, or Carbon Fiber. Cardboard landings are anywhere near epic.
So, please tell me your good and bad examples of landing but be specific on the conditions.
1. How fast (feet or meters per second)
2. Rocket construction. Body tube and fin material would be the most significant. But there will be situational specific issues. Such as the fin broke off, but was it through the wall with fillets or stuck to the body? Or if you didn't have any problems was it because you over reinforced the body? Why did it not break when you landed at high velocity?
3. Ground conditions. I have been to Death Valley and have respect for how solid desert sand can be. Fields of long grass are very forgiving with thick earth providing excellent impact absorbency (experience from a core sample landing). Bushes can be great to land in if you can get your rockets out later.
4. Would you do it again or was it a fluke? After seeing the results would you put a larger parachute on or did you keep the rocket as is.
I would like to know your limits. Granted there will be different limits for different types of fields. The fastest landing on the desert is just as exciting as the fastest landing in a snow bank.
Thanks
Andrew
So, please tell me your good and bad examples of landing but be specific on the conditions.
1. How fast (feet or meters per second)
2. Rocket construction. Body tube and fin material would be the most significant. But there will be situational specific issues. Such as the fin broke off, but was it through the wall with fillets or stuck to the body? Or if you didn't have any problems was it because you over reinforced the body? Why did it not break when you landed at high velocity?
3. Ground conditions. I have been to Death Valley and have respect for how solid desert sand can be. Fields of long grass are very forgiving with thick earth providing excellent impact absorbency (experience from a core sample landing). Bushes can be great to land in if you can get your rockets out later.
4. Would you do it again or was it a fluke? After seeing the results would you put a larger parachute on or did you keep the rocket as is.
I would like to know your limits. Granted there will be different limits for different types of fields. The fastest landing on the desert is just as exciting as the fastest landing in a snow bank.
Thanks
Andrew