- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
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Twice earlier this year I had made the drive north into the Antelope Valley and on to Mojave California. A sharp turn right and you are driving along the Northern side of all the history that is Edwards Air Force Base. Twice however the desert Winter winds had thwarted all attempts to launch. Last year I ended with four great launches in a row in this location. But 2013 had been a weather CATO so far.
Today would be different! I arrived about 8:30am after the 2 hour and 15 minute drive. Temperature already about 22C and the winds very light to dead calm. As is usual I had prepped 6 rockets the preceding few days and got down to work (or play as the case were).
Fair warning: I was having a "Bad Photo" day... they happen. Focus mostly. Apologies in advance.
First up:
My rebuilt Vaugh Bros Javelin loaded with a 166H175 Smoky Sam. The delay was adjusted to 8 seconds as you'll notice this is essentially a full G motor. Again keeping in mind all G's are not created equal. Or simply put a baby baby H. Riding along was an AltAcc 2C for testing. I had gotten it used off eBay and was having a devil of a time testing it with the usual procedure in the manual. Normally with my old AltAcc 2 I had no problem doing the test, but this one was kicking my butt.
So I used motor eject, hooked a 10k ohm resistor to the drogue channel and a Quest Q2G2 to the main with no BP for the test.
Recovery was perfect AND the Q2G2 fired. The readout made when I got home showed 1550' (472m) and spot on the ROCKSIM 1587' prediction. It all showed the drogue and the main channel firing. So I am pretty durn confident this AltAcc is read for service. At least for motor apogee and cable cutting service.
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