All rocketry enthusiasts
The 14 July 2024 QRS Launch will take place this Sunday starting from 8 am. The usual criteria apply for the launch going ahead and L1 certification attempts will be possible while the range is open.
Reminder: We are still working through our issues with Energex, as a result the exclusion zone under the power lines will remain. Only motors up to G impulse will be allowed without a special arrangement with a committee member.
I look forward to seeing everyone there!
Matt
Tripoli #13468 L3
Tripoli Prefect #131
QRS President
See you there
Dear QRS Member
Unusual day for launching last Sunday with some unforeseen issues.
Lots of rockets lifting off on A, B, C, D, E and F motors. Largest motor for the day and scalded cat award winner was Dave Skinner flying a G137 motor to 2000+ ft. Pictures and Video to come...
While sometimes issues cam happen at a launch, we are committed to making sure that when issues appear once then they do not happen again. We have club members ordering replacement components that will be tested before the next launch.
See you in August!
Thanks
Matt
QRS President
Tripoli #13468 L3
Tripoli Prefect #131
QRS President
Tripoli #13468 L3
Tripoli Prefect #131
QRS President
That G137 was pretty spectacular - flight of the day for sure.
After I got home I checked out the data from the hybrid launch attempt and confirmed what I though - the nitrous tank didn't quite have enough left to fully fill the motor, so the motor ran out of liquid oxidiser early and was already in the run-out phase by about 0.4s. The rocket also didn't quite make it high enough for the flight computer to start checking for apogee to put out the parachute - it made it just over 46m... but ejection charges are disabled below 50m... damn!
That's meant to be a safety feature of the flight computer so that the ejection chargesare always disabled below a certain altitude above the launch pad, that way if there's ever an intermittent issue with an e-match like an intermittent short or something, you don't get a surprise ejection charge when you collect the rocket after the flight, even if it's landed on a hillside higher than the launch pad. 50m is probably a bit excessive though so I've changed the code to 20m rather than 50m.
The acceleration off the rail was awesome though - maxed out my accelerometer (16g+) for the first time, and the damage is actually pretty minimal too. The e-bay, fin can and two fins that broke are all 3D printed parts, and nothing else was damaged. The fin can and spare fins are already on the printer so it'll be ready to fly again by tomorrow afternoon.