Model Forum / General / Rockets / February 2008

On Feb 7, 10:58 am, Phil Stein <PSt...@ArielSystems.spamsks.net>
wrote:

Phil,

This is what I found posted back in Aug 1996:

Paul Robinson & Ken Mizoi
View profile
To All Fellow Rocketeers:         The "OuR" project was launched
Friday, August 16th, 1996 at 9:05 PST. All available flight data is
still being analyzed so any information presented is preliminary and
is provided for the courtesy of all those who have supported the "OuR"
team.         First, the principal members of the "OuR" team are, in
alphabetical order, Frank Kosdon, Phil Prior, Paul Robinson, and Jim
Rosson.  These dedicated souls spent two years of dedicated research
and effort, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars, to build and
fly the "OuR" project.         The R motor is a proprietary engine
design with the propellant provided by Frank Kosdon.  It was 10.5" in
diameter and contained almost 300 pounds of propellant, including a 21
pound, full diameter delay "cake" for tracking.  It was calculated to
burn for 10.5 seconds, and provide 285,000 Newtons of total impulse.
Yes, in rocketeer terms an R27,000!         The airframe was 21 feet
long, with a 5 to 1 conical nose.  The gross launch mass was about 700
pounds.  On board was a ten watt video downlink, provided by Jon
Dunbar, a Trimble GPS, video overlay and associated electronics,
provided by Bob Rau, and various other backup electronics.  Both main
and drouge parachutes were provided by Bob Stroud.         The rocket
was launched in almost no winds, pointing a few degrees away from the
town of Gerlach, NV for safety reasons.  The rocket flew perfectly
straight and the motor functioned flawlessly with a total activity
time around 12 to 14 seconds.  The rocket coasted for about 80
seconds, slightly more than calculated, into the ozone layer.  The
altitude simulations pointed to an expected altitude of just under
100,000 feet.  With the increased activity time and increased coast
time, the altitude most likely exceeded 100,000 feet.         One
highlight of this flight was the video data transmitted back to earth
from approximately twenty miles in the sky.  What was seen was a clear
outline of the entire Black Rock Dessert and the surrounding terrain,
the curvature of the earth, and the great blackness of the
space.         Higher altitudes are accessible by smaller rockets, but
the intent of this project was to successfully build and fire a
"large" rocket motor.  Previously, only commercial enterprises have
had success with motors of over four inches in diameter and the
results of last year's BALLS launch support this presumption.
Furthermore, the instruments carried aloft simply would not fit in say
a 54mm "altitude optimized" motor.         Unfortunately, the rocket
failed to deploy its recovery systems and accelerated to over Mach 1
and impacted into the sand dunes several miles away.  There was a loud
sonic boom heard by all that literally shook the earth.  In fact,
instead of the nominal "hole and fin slits" seen in previous impacts,
there was a twenty foot diameter area with large chunks of sheared
earth as if a high energy charge had been detonated under the ground.
The rocket was not recovered, but several pieces of metal, fiberglass,
and burnt Nomex were found indicating the ejection charges did in fact
fire.         As more data is analyzed, and more hard facts are
gathered, more information will follow.  Furthermore, the rights to
the video are in the negotiation stage with the various film crews
present, but do expect a very detailed video from Earl Cagle of Point
39 Productions.         Once again, the "OuR" Project members wish to
express sincere thanks to all those who listened, donated, and gave
their support who were not specifically named.  This project would not
have flown if were not for the "believers" and the tremendous team
spirit.  Only they know the sweat and the number of hours it takes to
fly such a
rocket.
Members of the "OuR" Team
    More options Aug 21 1996, 12:00 am
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets
From: pa...@shore.net (Paul Robinson & Ken Mizoi)
Date: 1996/08/21
Subject: **"OuR" Project press release**
Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original

To All Fellow Rocketeers:

       The "OuR" project was launched Friday, August 16th, 1996 at
9:05 PST.
All available flight data is still being analyzed so any information
presented is preliminary and is provided for the courtesy of all those
who have supported the "OuR" team.

       First, the principal members of the "OuR" team are, in
alphabetical
order, Frank Kosdon, Phil Prior, Paul Robinson, and Jim Rosson.  These
dedicated souls spent two years of dedicated research and effort, not
to mention tens of thousands of dollars, to build and fly the "OuR"
project.

       The R motor is a proprietary engine design with the propellant
provided by Frank Kosdon.  It was 10.5" in diameter and contained
almost 300 pounds of propellant, including a 21 pound, full diameter
delay "cake" for tracking.  It was calculated to burn for 10.5
seconds, and provide 285,000 Newtons of total impulse.  Yes, in
rocketeer terms an R27,000!

       The airframe was 21 feet long, with a 5 to 1 conical nose.
The gross
launch mass was about 700 pounds.  On board was a ten watt video
downlink, provided by Jon Dunbar, a Trimble GPS, video overlay and
associated electronics, provided by Bob Rau, and various other backup
electronics.  Both main and drouge parachutes were provided by Bob
Stroud.

       The rocket was launched in almost no winds, pointing a few
degrees
away from the town of Gerlach, NV for safety reasons.  The rocket flew
perfectly straight and the motor functioned flawlessly with a total
activity time around 12 to 14 seconds.  The rocket coasted for about
80 seconds, slightly more than calculated, into the ozone layer.  The
altitude simulations pointed to an expected altitude of just under
100,000 feet.  With the increased activity time and increased coast
time, the altitude most likely exceeded 100,000 feet.

       One highlight of this flight was the video data transmitted
back to
earth from approximately twenty miles in the sky.  What was seen was a
clear outline of the entire Black Rock Dessert and the surrounding
terrain, the curvature of the earth, and the great blackness of the
space.

       Higher altitudes are accessible by smaller rockets, but the
intent of
this project was to successfully build and fire a "large" rocket
motor.  Previously, only commercial enterprises have had success with
motors of over four inches in diameter and the results of last year's
BALLS launch support this presumption.  Furthermore, the instruments
carried aloft simply would not fit in say a 54mm "altitude optimized"
motor.

       Unfortunately, the rocket failed to deploy its recovery
systems and
accelerated to over Mach 1 and impacted into the sand dunes several
miles away.  There was a loud sonic boom heard by all that literally
shook the earth.  In fact, instead of the nominal "hole and fin slits"
seen in previous impacts, there was a twenty foot diameter area with
large chunks of sheared earth as if a high energy charge had been
detonated under the ground.  The rocket was not recovered, but several
pieces of metal, fiberglass, and burnt Nomex were found indicating the
ejection charges did in fact fire.

       As more data is analyzed, and more hard facts are gathered,
more
information will follow.  Furthermore, the rights to the video are in
the negotiation stage with the various film crews present, but do
expect a very detailed video from Earl Cagle of Point 39 Productions.

       Once again, the "OuR" Project members wish to express sincere
thanks
to all those who listened, donated, and gave their support who were
not specifically named.  This project would not have flown if were not
for the "believers" and the tremendous team spirit.  Only they know
the sweat and the number of hours it takes to fly such a rocket.

                                                       Members of the
"OuR" Team

That was a project done way back in '96.  It lawn darted with no
deployment and minimal parts recovery.  They tried to use pyro ejection
charges.

What's been discovered since then by many high flyers is that BP charges
do not work well at high altitudes.  Do a Google and you'll find many
articles about why BP has a tough time igniting at low pressures and why
many have switched to CO2 for high altitude deployment.

Here's a link to Tony's website depicting his technique on how he has
used BP for high altitude deployment.

Ted Novak
TRA#5512
IEAS#75

I have several VHS video tapes of different aspects of the launch, along
with several photos. If I get some time in the next month or so, I'll
digitize the lot and post some of it to ABMR. May need to get permission
to post on some of the video, as it's not all mine.

Fred