- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 11,596
- Reaction score
- 6,218
First, as always, cool.Here's a 2-stage version:
View attachment 468469
The required enlargement of the sustainer fins makes it look a little more traditional (albeit nice). And here's what the sustainer looks like on its own:
View attachment 468470
I don't think I would trust those fins to survive boost *or* landing.
second, sustainer fin problem easily solved with rear eject. For flight purposes, stick a section of Nerf Dart or tape on the nose tip to reduce chance of breakage since this will be point of “First Contact” on landing (not the Star Trek kind, either!)
third, is BOOSTER stable post staging? If so, you are indeed looking at a true Core Sampler. If NOT, does the surface area of the fins provide enough drag for a safe tumble recovery? Options include deploying a small Nomex streamer tucked around the sustainer motor mount, or mounting accessory cluster pod or pods on the booster. Simplest would be a 1/2A3-2T BT-5 pod, just long enough for motor, wadding, streamer, and nose cone. The delay allows the sustainer to stage and separate before the auxilliary pod pops the streamer.
you would be fine IMO with a single pod, the asymmetric thrust assuming you put the pod right up against the main body tube is negligible. If you are a purist, or for aesthetic looks, use two, one on each side. Gives you more redundancy.
another advantage of the smaller pod motors, if the main doesn’t light, the auxiliaries are likely too weak do get the rocket off the pad. Mildly embarrassing but not a safety risk. If the main lights and the auxilliary does not, at worst you are looking at the same core sample you would have otherwise had. Not optimal, but a cone less rocket tube coming down open tube end first is unlikely to do much damage, except possibly to your relationship with the RSO…. Actually, if the auxilliary does NOT light, it increases the probability the booster will be UNSTABLE (good thing) as it will be a bit more tail heavy, so better chance of tumble.