Sledgehammer M1850 Pad Cam

15 responses to “Sledgehammer M1850 Pad Cam”

1. 

   Pacdog

   Jun 3, 2010 at 6:11 pm

   Wow! that was kewl! great video..

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2. 

   Scott Stringham “Rustling Leaf Design”

   Jun 3, 2010 at 6:14 pm

   cool!!!!

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3. 

   jurvetson

   Jun 3, 2010 at 6:17 pm

   Data log from one of the flight computers (HCX-100):

   

   Looking at the red accelerometer, you can see positive thrust until burnout at 4 seconds, then air drag for 19 seconds, punctuated by a pop of the explosive charge blowing off the nosecone and parachute bundle. The parachute unwraps and catches air at 24 seconds bringing the airframe to a jostling halt and beginning her long, slow drift back to Earth.

   Launch photo I took with the long lens:

   

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4. 

   ukweli

   Jun 3, 2010 at 6:31 pm

   Awesome!

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5. 

   karl.simpson

   Jun 3, 2010 at 6:36 pm

   Wow. That looked and sounded incredible. The video rocked…. very well done.

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6. 

   mebooyou

   Jun 3, 2010 at 7:51 pm

   Damn, you are picking up your game!

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7. 

   DixonTJ

   Jun 3, 2010 at 9:17 pm

   Steve, I was thinking this was your L3 rocket… But not dual deploy?

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8. 

   kainet

   Jun 3, 2010 at 10:14 pm

   awesome

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9. 

   Astrocatou

   Jun 4, 2010 at 12:57 am

   Interesting to see the LOSS of acceleration during the boost phase…as drag builds up…the rocket motor is most efficient at zero airspeed..
   (I would be interested to (re)see a graph of drag versus airspeed for small rockets…its scary stuff.
   It was this small scale/low mass/drag effect (frankly) that caused me to sort of decide this was "scalable" but unwinnable game…
   In astronomy we have more tools to battle atmospheric effects;
   Narrowband filters
   computer stacking
   signal averaging
   adaptive optics

   As well,unlike Keck,etc,we can spend ALL the time we want on a particular exposure…no research schedual to keep to…
   So we do not need to go to mountain tops or have 10 meter scope mirrors to level the playing field (somewhat…)
   Small scale can deliver…
   (Trying to convert you…!)

   Not to take anything away from it…and really enjoying the pics,and yr site…
   Great stuff !

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10. 

    Pieces of Eye

    Jun 4, 2010 at 4:50 am

    Have you done any experiments for fun with your rockets? (aeronomy, astronomy, guidance, atmospheric chem, etc..)

    Reply
11. 

    jurvetson

    Jun 4, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    So far, I have focused on video capture with various configurations (wide-angle side view, downward pointing strap-on-cams, wireless transmission) and some RF/GPS tracking with real-time overlay onto Google Earth (thanks to Tom’s military satellite link in the desert =)

    Active guidance is illegal, unfortunately, but we can deploy gliders or UAVs or rovers at apogee. Tom has a very cool astrobiology project in the works, with the first test launch this summer. Details:

    

    DixonTJ: Yes it was my L3 Cert rocket, but in a shorter configuration. I had the very first prototype build of this puppy, and so it is a bit unusual (but super strong on the tail end). Instead of a piston, I used some of the design mod components to add a large video bay segment mid rocket. I could fly dual deploy, but for a rocket this fat and this heavy, it tops out just over a mile up, and so I have not found the need. I just use dual deploy for the supersonic screamers that disappear from sight.

    DaveHalliday: During the first 4 seconds, a big part of the acceleration curve relates to the thrust curve of the motor. As the propellant burns from the core out, the thrust is not linear:

    

    P.S. the SpaceX Falcon9 live webcast is underway…. Will likely be a long wait though, to set expectations properly….

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12. 

    Pieces of Eye

    Jun 5, 2010 at 6:37 am

    So cool.

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13. 

    Victor1

    Jun 7, 2010 at 6:09 am

    Very nice video! It got pretty stable there towards the end.

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14. 

    c.r.photoholic

    Nov 25, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    where is it going =)

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15. 

    jurvetson

    Nov 25, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    Up!

    Aim for the sky and try not to miss.

    She has had seven successful flights so far.

    Reply