Coming in Ballistic

11 responses to “Coming in Ballistic”

1. 

   jurvetson

   Jul 26, 2010 at 5:09 am

   About to hit…
   

   Quarter second later…
   

   As Found. Note the fin-aligned spray pattern of darker clay from below. The blue motor casing was pushed up by the accordion-like compression of the innards on impact.
   

   The dig. In a surreal coincidence, or maybe not, the visiting Brits and Germans joined me to help dig it out.
   

   Extraction… we have to leave the playa in pristine shape.
   

   The lead nose weight was like a mass-javelin and left a vertical tunnel. Using a flashlight to peer downward, I’d estimate that it’s 20 ft. down.

   Rocket Art
   

   …the remains of the day. Most of the innards were destroyed as well. Any uneven distribution of mass created huge shear forces at impact. Total unharmed components: the smallest of the three parachutes, the rear motor closure, and the Kevlar shock cords.

   Even the microSD card with the onboard HD video was sheared in half, and it was deep inside the metal camera case. That was the most disappointing loss of all.

   And here’s the launch sequence and video if you missed it earlier. At least that was a glorious swan song…

   Reply
2. 

   : Nils

   Jul 26, 2010 at 5:29 am

   Wow. Guess I commented on your launch photo too soon 🙁

   Reply
3. 

   angry shock

   Jul 26, 2010 at 5:30 am

   It’s amazing how much a project depends on so many tiny variables to go well and succeeed…. but it always happens this way.

   Reply
4. 

   Astrocatou

   Jul 26, 2010 at 5:33 am

   Ouch…looks like a few $$ got squashed….
   But it was FUN to see….(!!!)

   I used to gamble for 50$ (blackjack..)..then have to double on good cards,.. and then lose…
   This must have hurt a bit more !

   Reply
5. 

   DixonTJ

   Jul 26, 2010 at 12:30 pm

   Wow Steve, such a beautiful rocket! Great up part at least… RIP V2.1.

   Reply
6. 

   Jim Rees

   Jul 27, 2010 at 2:10 am

   Were the flash chips inside the microSD cracked? Surely you know someone who can re-bond them.

   Reply
7. 

   obskura

   Jul 27, 2010 at 11:30 am

   Oh no. Ever considered a secondary eject mechanism for the camera in case things go awfully wrong? But then if things go wrong with the rocket parachute, according to murphy’s law the camera eject system won’t work either…

   Reply
8. 

   Leino88

   Jul 27, 2010 at 3:09 pm

   Oh man… That just bites
   So sorry.

   To early to think of 2.2?

   Blah

   Reply
9. 

   jurvetson

   Jul 31, 2010 at 9:51 pm

   Yes… Browsing about today…. Thinking about an all carbon-fiber rocket that can take the same motor, but would go supersonic. I would leave it clear-coated carbon fiber – to match my mountain bike and car. =)

   obskura: early on, I tried RF transmission with a directional antenna (but quality was low and signal often lost), then a tape drive (no matter how mangled the recorder and even tape enclosure gets you can manually access it. But, of course, that is the only camera that has not been destroyed over frequent flights. Lastly, I have experimented with lightweight and cylindrical strap-ons (Oregon Scientific, Boostervision and ContourHD).

   Jim Rees: the MicroSD card cleaved in half, right through the silicon.

   Reply
10. 

    vondeliusc

    Jan 25, 2012 at 12:59 am

    Make sure your passengers ride on the rear motor closure.
    You weren’t using used Airbus computers, were you?
    Some chinese guy has a nice garden ornament in the shape of a nose cone ‘-)

    Reply
11. 

    jurvetson

    Jan 28, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    The payload bay

    

    Reply