Well that didn't work... Failure Gallery

[sriegel]

50 year old C6, 2/3 CATO.

Estes Phoenix, E reload CATO

BT-80 Luna Bug, 3xD cluster, only 2 lit.

Remains of Luna Bug. 3rd D motor lit from front end after impact, burned forward into airframe.

E CATO in a candy basket.

 

[smstachwick]

My stability estimates weren’t quite right on this two-stager. The sharp turn below horizontal, staging, and then a powered flight towards the flight line at a shallow downward angle is just about the most frightening thing I’ve ever seen on the range. The RSO would have been right to go ballistic (no pun intended) but he must have seen that I was mortified enough to not make this mistake again.

 

[lakeroadster]

What one man calls a failure... another calls a learning opportunity. Well, except for cato's... those just suck.

Here's my F-79 on it's maiden flight from Aug 2022. It's a dual parachute rear eject. First chute billowed and shredded. Second chute never billowed.

I built a couple over the top chutes for the 2nd flight. That one was a success. Maverick even landed on the runway.

​

​

 

[BigMacDaddy]

I posted this elsewhere a while back but for posterity thought I would post it here...

I was a little too optimistic about the stabilizing effect of base drag...

 

[Hobie1dog]

with a major launch this weekend I am Not wanting to post anything at this point to possibly jinx myself

 

[lakeroadster]

with a major launch this weekend I am Not wanting to post anything at this point to possibly jinx myself

No worries, he retired.

 

[kuririn]

Yesterday:
Applewhite Stealth, F15-4


Loc Cool Spool, F15-4


MESS reports submitted.

 

[lakeroadster]

Yesterday:
Applewhite Stealth, F15-4
View attachment 587201

Loc Cool Spool, F15-4
View attachment 587202

MESS reports submitted.

I wonder if composite motors are more less prone to cato than black powder motors, based on percentage of motors sold?

Estes sells so many BP motors it's really hard to know which type of motor is more reliable.

 

[Voyhager3]

E12 CATO in my precious Ecee Thunder probably the end of it…
J 22 10 22 date code

 

[kuririn]

Japan's first commercial space launch yesterday:

 

[Pem Tech]

50 year old C6, 2/3 CATO.
View attachment 535126
Estes Phoenix, E reload CATO
View attachment 535133
BT-80 Luna Bug, 3xD cluster, only 2 lit.
View attachment 535129
Remains of Luna Bug. 3rd D motor lit from front end after impact, burned forward into airframe.
View attachment 535131
E CATO in a candy basket.
View attachment 535135

Ouch....
That hurts.

How did you do she consistent and pretty rivets?

 

[sriegel]

Ouch....
That hurts.

How did you do she consistent and pretty rivets?

I don't. They have a lot of variation in them. Fine-tip bottle, Gorilla-brand wood glue.

 

[Pem Tech]

I don't. They have a lot of variation in them. Fine-tip bottle, Gorilla-brand wood glue.

Seriously!?
Guess I'll give that a try while I work on the 3D printed rivets.

 

[NTP2]

Japan's first commercial space launch yesterday:

It’s Gemini all over again…

 

[ksaves2]

It’s Gemini all over again…

Surprised they weren't prepared to spray water around the surrounding area to prevent fire spread. Yeah I know, once APCP starts burning, it's almost impossible to stop. Although with a nuclear Minuteman missile, I've read when the inertial guidance determines the motor fired long enough to get to target, it vents the motor casing to the vacuum of space and that extinguishes the motor.

 

[rocket_troy]

It’s Gemini all over again…

I could be wrong, but I kinda remember Gemini being mostly successful. There may have been a few touchy moments in orbit or re-entry, but I can't recall there being many launch issues. In fact, IIRC, it was the point in time when the US started winning the space race over the USSR.

Maybe you were thinking of the early Vangaurd launches attempts?

TP

 

[ksaves2]

I could be wrong, but I kinda remember Gemini being mostly successful. There may have been a few touchy moments in orbit or re-entry, but I can't recall there being many launch issues. In fact, IIRC, it was the point in time when the US started winning the space race over the USSR.

Maybe you were thinking of the early Vangaurd launches?

TP

The Titan missile had some problems during early development but it was initially intended to launch nuclear missiles to Russia. By the time it was co-apted for Gemini, the bugs had been worked out.
Yeah, the early Vanguard program had bugs too as they were trying to rush it since Russia got Sputnik launched.

 

[rocket_troy]

Yeah, the early Vanguard program had bugs too as they were trying to rush it since Russia got Sputnik launched.

Indeed, IIRC it was the TV-3 failure that inspired the famous "Kuputnik" headline.

TP

 

[Capt. Eric]

I don't. They have a lot of variation in them. Fine-tip bottle, Gorilla-brand wood glue.

Rivets - I used half pearls. CA glued on. Different sizes available on Amazon. Cheap. Easy. Consistent.

 

[Capt. Eric]

Japan launched on E12's.
Space X used Aerotech.

 

[Pem Tech]

Rivets - I used half pearls. CA glued on. Different sizes available on Amazon. Cheap. Easy. Consistent.

Dang that is sweet.....

 

[NTP2]

I could be wrong, but I kinda remember Gemini being
Maybe you were thinking of the early Vangaurd launches attempts?

TP

Yep They are pretty bleared together in my head.

 

[Capt. Eric]

Feeling the need to contribute, here's mine from January. Estes E12 ruined a perfectly good Christmas tree!
And I submitted it to Estes, but they refuse to answer my emails. I had another, a Big Daddy, do the same thing that day.

 

[BigMacDaddy]

"Well there's your problem!"