Sounds like a fun / challenging project. Other than the original 1:1 scale, has this ever been done?
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Multi Stage Saturn V
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you're the one to do it 
It's been done, but it's pretty challenging, especially if you are going for true scale.
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Lots of post on this topic...here's one:
www.rocketryforum.com
Estes Saturn V, Quintuple Cluster, Staged
I imagine someone has posed this idea before, and I know this would be a mess, but maybe a fun mess. I have an extra Estes Saturn V Skylab (main body tube is a bit squished), but the Skylab vs Apollo doesn't much matter here. What I want to do, because I can (try), is modify it to be a cluster...
www.rocketryforum.com
Trying to keep motors per stage true to the original
3rd and 4th stages use roll stability
The trick is keeping the apogee low enough to find all the pieces parts... but having enough thrust to get it stable off the rod (or out of the silo).
- 1st stage: 5 motor C6 cluster
- 2nd stage: 5 motor B6 cluster
- 3rd stage: Single B6 motor
- 4th stage: Single A3 motor
3rd and 4th stages use roll stability
The trick is keeping the apogee low enough to find all the pieces parts... but having enough thrust to get it stable off the rod (or out of the silo).
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Here's a bit more conservative approach. B Motors and A motors should be visually more exciting due to the stages igniting at low altitudes.
This one has all the internal tubes too.
I canted the fins to get some roll stability and added the base drag hack to the other stages.
When the 4th stage ignites it pulls 3 small chutes out. The 4th stage motor is deep enough in the LEM transition that Krushnic Effect should render it useless in regard to thrust.
We'll call this one the Apollo 13 version, where we use the LEM motor...
At least that's the plan....
This one has all the internal tubes too.
I canted the fins to get some roll stability and added the base drag hack to the other stages.
When the 4th stage ignites it pulls 3 small chutes out. The 4th stage motor is deep enough in the LEM transition that Krushnic Effect should render it useless in regard to thrust.
We'll call this one the Apollo 13 version, where we use the LEM motor...
At least that's the plan....
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Cheap and Dirty (CHAD) staging 5 to 5?
boatgeek
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That looks like lots of fun. You'll want to launch with other people so you can task them with tracking the various bits and pieces falling from the sky. I'm envisioning a Reservoir Dogs-like scenario:
Lakeroadster: You're Mr. Pink, first stage. You, you're Mr. Blue, second stage. And you're Mr. Green, third stage. I'll track the capsule.
Mr. Pink: Why do I have to track the first stage?
Lakeroadster: Because if everyone got the stage they wanted, we'd have four people tracking the capsule and stages 1-3 will be lost forever!
I think that you'll want to delete the base drag hack cones for stages that haven't deployed yet. Otherwise their drag gets all tangled up in the whole simulation. It might mean making a raft of different files.
Lakeroadster: You're Mr. Pink, first stage. You, you're Mr. Blue, second stage. And you're Mr. Green, third stage. I'll track the capsule.
Mr. Pink: Why do I have to track the first stage?
Lakeroadster: Because if everyone got the stage they wanted, we'd have four people tracking the capsule and stages 1-3 will be lost forever!
I think that you'll want to delete the base drag hack cones for stages that haven't deployed yet. Otherwise their drag gets all tangled up in the whole simulation. It might mean making a raft of different files.
All the stages have individual extension tubes from each booster motor, up to the next stage corresponding motor.
Which brings up a good point. 1st stage is 5 motors. 2nd stage is 5 motors.
- What's the chances of all the 1st stage motors stopping at the same time and then lighting the 2nd stage at the same time?
- Would it be better to do a flash pan arrangement at the base of the second stage, with a little black powder, such that whichever 1st stage motor expires 1st, it will light the flash pan powder which will light all the motors? Basically, just a pan, with the 5 tubes out the bottom. Place a piece of tissue paper across the bottom of the pan, then some black powder. Whichever 1st stage motor belches fire 1st lights the flash pan charge.
Chance of 5 clustered Estes BP motors successfully chad staging 5 clustered second stage motors above. Mindsim engaged. Slim and none...and Slim is leaving town!
Yes Mr. RSO, flashpan ignition for upper stage cluster ignition is a good idea!
Yes Mr. RSO, flashpan ignition for upper stage cluster ignition is a good idea!
Chad clusters need to be independently stacked. More like a Saturn 1 look.
Yes Mr. RSO. It is safe to fly even if a first stage motor CATOs and it gets a stack out of sequence! Already did that on the first flight! Now launching it in the great State of WYOMING!
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from experience I have learned that pulling chutes out while a rocket stage is at full throttle often ends badly.
@Lakeroaster: Would be great if you could share the OpenRocket-File, I like the way you solved the "cones" next to the fins.
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There are two approaches that I can see as potential options for building a scale looking multistage Saturn V.
The first would be to use thrust vectored motors in the second and third stages. There aren't really any kits for it currently available, but there are a decent number of people who have designed and built their own systems. It also makes doing a 5 motor cluster on the second stage a lot harder.
The other option would be to design some sort of flip out fin mechanism for the second and third stages. You'd lose a bit of the scale look after staging, and a cluster in the second stage would still pose issues with fitting the mechanism in around the motors.
The first would be to use thrust vectored motors in the second and third stages. There aren't really any kits for it currently available, but there are a decent number of people who have designed and built their own systems. It also makes doing a 5 motor cluster on the second stage a lot harder.
The other option would be to design some sort of flip out fin mechanism for the second and third stages. You'd lose a bit of the scale look after staging, and a cluster in the second stage would still pose issues with fitting the mechanism in around the motors.
Sage advice... so it shall be written, so it shall be done.
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Worth noting: No GDS is used. The rear fins are canted to induce roll stability. If the fins are revised to being straight, the flight apogee drops to 245 feet
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And if you want to do a moon shot.. load it up with C6 motors in all the stages and an A motor in the 4th stage for a 2,800 foot apogee 
But the chances of finding all the parts would be Slim and Nun. Slim is still walking around at the launch site; the Nun went back to the convent.
But the chances of finding all the parts would be Slim and Nun. Slim is still walking around at the launch site; the Nun went back to the convent.
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Slim looks at the sims and is vexed. It is just an ignition issue.
Only the 1st stage needs fins. All the other stages are stable based on roll stability and base drag, that's what the simulations reveal.
Ignition issue?Slim looks at the sims and is vexed. It is just an ignition issue.
Can you post the latest file?
You have blinded me with Science! You need a lot of velocity and spin to make those upper stages stable enough with out lovely pop out fins. FINS RULE! May all your motors ignite and stage simultaneously!
Ever seen a rocket powered cone or pyramid fly? Fins, we don't need no stinking fins. Behold the awesome power of base drag.
But in any event.. the proof will be determined after the launch button is pushed.
In my mindsim I asked the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother "Has any man ever Chad staged a 5 to 5 cluster?" She said "Many men have tried to transmute the 5 by 5 staged cluster, they have all died!"
Silly Bene Gesserit! If the machines say it will work, go for it! Trust the Machines!
Silly Bene Gesserit! If the machines say it will work, go for it! Trust the Machines!
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Cones fly but the base must be wide and the CG 2/3'the way up from the bottom. Otherwise it is no good, stinking pop out fins!
Singing like Huey Lewis: "The power of drag is a curious thing..."
Trust, but verify.
The internal flash pan concept seems plausible.
Spitballing here:
Three of the five 1st stage motors would have a 3 second delay, 2 of the 1st stage motors would be boosters, and thus either would ignite the flash pan. Vent holes would be drilled through the fuselage to prevent stage separation upon flash pan ignition.
The dark side is strong with this one. Let it flow, it makes you strong!
If it fails you can always say that rocket was just a flash in the pan!
Tubed 5 motor Flash pan for both stages. Pyro rules! Damned are the pyrotechnic device rules for rockets! Must have fun!
Tubed 5 motor Flash pan for both stages. Pyro rules! Damned are the pyrotechnic device rules for rockets! Must have fun!
boatgeek
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Consider making only the center motor a -0, and the outboards -3. Then the flash pan ignites in an orderly manner from center to outboards. This has the added happy effect that you can use the outboards for chute deployment.
For the swing test video you might have to go down to the Olympic Training Center in the Springs and recruit a hammer throw champion!
