Semi-scale SS-20 Saber / RSD-10 Pioneer IRBM

[amiles]

The second main charge ejection test was also successful.

The first test (not shown here) was almost double what is shown here. That turned out to be...unnecessarily energetic.

 

[amiles]

Here are a couple frames from that main charge ejection test. These show the fun effect of combustion products erupting from the vent and shear pin holes.

 

[Sandy H.]

Here are a couple frames from that main charge ejection test. These show the fun effect of combustion products erupting from the vent and shear pin holes.

I don't know how I never saw this thread. WOW! Awesome and I mean that in the literal sense: Awe Inspiring!

 

[amiles]

18 months after this thread was started and I still can't get over what an insane piece of work that is. Seeing one of the... uh... "noses" eject like that just reminds me of it again.

Great work.

Thank you! It's been a long, slow process (starting more than 3 years ago) but is now getting very close to completion.

 

[amiles]

Planning on a 98mm Aerotech N2000W for this thing. This was my first experience building a motor that requires gluing the propellant grains into the liner. That part of the assembly process was...stressful. Definitely a good idea to have extra hands in the mix. Otherwise it could have gone quite poorly.

 

[amiles]

Here's a test fit of the motor in in the booster.

 

[amiles]

The launch tube is attached to a ladder-like frame made out of 1515 aluminum (the tube is bolted to the frame at the bottom and strapped at several points along its length). The whole launch tube/frame (which weighs 89 lbs) can then be attached to a standard 1515 launch rail.

Today we tested the process with a short launch rail surrogate. For the actual launch the attachment will be done in horizontal position.

For an actual launch, the sequence will be: (1) slide launch tube/frame onto horizontal launch rail; (2) bolt frame to launch rail; (3) place sabots around rocket; (4) slide rocket with sabots into tube, tail end first, until the booster rests against a stopper at the base of the tube; (5) adjust rotation of rocket in tube as necessary so that the flight computer push buttons align with access holes in launch tube; (6) raise the launch rail and proceed with normal launch procedures.

 

[amiles]

Successful launch this weekend! Well, mostly successful. One of the eight grid fins failed to rotate down, and as the motor thrust ramped down the rocket rolled onto its side and found its true ballistic roots.

Despite the horizontal flight and one cartwheel (which may have resulted from that fin eventually folding down into position?), all five parachutes deployed as planned and we recovered all components with no unplanned damage. I say no "unplanned" damage because of expected damage to the three grid fins on the side that the booster laid down on at landing. Replacement grid fins can be simply bolted back onto the airframe.

 

[amiles]

In zoomed-in video frames you can see the fin that failed to rotate down into position.

 

[amiles]

All five components successfully recovered.

 

[bad_idea]

Brilliant! Such an amazing project. I'm glad it worked so well.

 

[rfjustin]

Awesome stuff, thanks!

 

[amiles]

And here's the launch video.
View attachment GX030004_1702843076687_1.mp4