Canon PowerShot SD700 IS
ƒ/5.6
5.8 mm
1/640

Prepping out at the Far Far Away pad… the biggest, baddest project of the weekend.

Jeff ’s rocket blew up into tiny bits at the 2004 lucky-BALLS13 launch, so the hydraulic lift and liquid-fuel-pumping pad had to be rebuilt, as well as a shiny new 22’-tall rocket. This was the third attempt, looking for some charm.

It takes 175- 200 lbs of nitrous oxide + 28 lbs of HTPB… and is capable of being an R10000 motor. Just loading the nitrous takes 40 minutes.

At BALLS16, this rocket build had a glorious launch off the pad… at least until it screamed up to Mach 3 and exploded…

The droid took a cool video of the sound of the sizzling remains on the playa. When they come in hot, it’s more than figurative…

(Jeff Jakob’s BALLS16 photo album and early motor tests)

9 responses to “BIG Hybrid Rocket”

  1. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    Here’s a photo of the 2004 CATO:

    "Five seconds after the fire button was released the vehicle went BOOM!

    The cause of the cato was oxidizer leaking into the combustion chamber. This resulted in the fuelgrain becoming frozen or layered with ice. During ignition, pieces of frozen fuel grain or ice broke off and clogged the nozzle resulting in over pressurization of the motor case. Once the shock wave entered the oxidizer tank the vehicle fragmented and pieces were propelled in every direction."

    Reply
  2. paranoidroid Avatar
    paranoidroid

    I also took a video of the launch:

    youtube.com/watch?v=xh8_1nruUHA&mode=related&search=

    It was an amazing launch. Had to be there.

    Reply
  3. alleged hour Avatar
    alleged hour

    Reminds me of when I watched the space shuttle "O" ring failure at KSP a few years back. Great shots & videos guys.

    Reply
  4. Erik Charlton Avatar
    Erik Charlton

    When did you get this photo?? Where was I? How did I miss this!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. =)

    Reply
  5. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    You were busy building your motor and getting the wireless video and GPS running… I set out to walk the Earth.

    Clear Image: I had similar thought, with my fingers crossed recently at STS-118

    I have not seen the post-mortem for this year’s hybrid CATO, but in the video link I just posted, you can see the nose section pop off soon after launch… I’ve made that mistake before.

    Reply
  6. A Traveler Avatar
    A Traveler

    I’ve been looking for photos or videos of Jeff’s 8" at button time but alas…
    so I figured I should post mine.

    And seeing how I’m new here, I do that as soon as I figure out how…

    Reply
  7. A Traveler Avatar
    A Traveler

    And there it is… woo hoo

    Reply
  8. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    Thanks! Here’s a direct link to your photo

    Reply
  9. TrombaMarina Avatar
    TrombaMarina

    I think with unmanned rocketry, the failures are almost as much fun as the successes. I flew model rockets as a kid. Simple ones from kits, not like these. But it brings me back. Those were fun times.

    Reply

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