lcorinth
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- Aug 5, 2014
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A friend and I tried to launch his Apogee Aspire recently. Since, between the two of us, I'm the one who's actually done a lot of reading and getting obsessed with rocketry, I basically built it for him, and it lives with me - essentially, it's become my rocket.
Anyway, he got it for his birthday, and really wants to see it launch. I'd taken the responsibility of setting it up. But I'd never attempted to use a composite before; I didn't insert the igniter far enough into the motor, and when we pressed the launch button, the igniter sparked and nothing else happened.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise really great launch.
I felt bad, and said that since I was thinking of getting into using composites anyway, I'd get him another igniter.
Now, the questions: This is an Apogee motor that came with a Copperhead igniter. Do I have to use that igniter, or can I use a different brand? I haven't really shopped around for a replacement yet, but he's in town for a week, and I'd like to try to get this rocket in the air if possible.
What about Estes sonic igniters? I don't know if there's a huge difference between composite igniters, but there is a local hobby shop that carries them, and the package simply says "For composite motors." But I don't know if that means for Estes composite motors only. I don't know if they're any more or less reliable than a Copperhead or First Fire Jr., but if they're at least supposed to work with another brand composite motor, I could go out right now and pick up a package of three for little more than five bucks.
Can you mix and match igniters/starters/initiators with different brands of composite motors, or do you need a specific igniter for a specific motor? What about those Sonics? Would they work? I feel kind of responsible for the misfire, and I promised I'd get him a new igniter - it was for his birthday, after all.
Thanks!
Anyway, he got it for his birthday, and really wants to see it launch. I'd taken the responsibility of setting it up. But I'd never attempted to use a composite before; I didn't insert the igniter far enough into the motor, and when we pressed the launch button, the igniter sparked and nothing else happened.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise really great launch.
I felt bad, and said that since I was thinking of getting into using composites anyway, I'd get him another igniter.
Now, the questions: This is an Apogee motor that came with a Copperhead igniter. Do I have to use that igniter, or can I use a different brand? I haven't really shopped around for a replacement yet, but he's in town for a week, and I'd like to try to get this rocket in the air if possible.
What about Estes sonic igniters? I don't know if there's a huge difference between composite igniters, but there is a local hobby shop that carries them, and the package simply says "For composite motors." But I don't know if that means for Estes composite motors only. I don't know if they're any more or less reliable than a Copperhead or First Fire Jr., but if they're at least supposed to work with another brand composite motor, I could go out right now and pick up a package of three for little more than five bucks.
Can you mix and match igniters/starters/initiators with different brands of composite motors, or do you need a specific igniter for a specific motor? What about those Sonics? Would they work? I feel kind of responsible for the misfire, and I promised I'd get him a new igniter - it was for his birthday, after all.
Thanks!