Mile High Attempt

6 responses to “Mile High Attempt”

1. 

   jurvetson

   Feb 19, 2012 at 6:48 pm

   Detail of the launch through parachute unfurling (blue is altitude, red is acceleration):
   
   Following the red line, you can see 4.7s of positive thrust, and then 14 seconds of negative drag until the blue line reaches apogee (the blue triangle up top is the onboard computer deploying the parachute charge at apogee as programmed). The red downward spike at 19s is the BP explosion (like a sharp retro-rocket impulse), then there is some turbulence as the parachute unfurls by 24s (on the top graph, you can see the blue parabolic rollover and then linear descent under chute). Good thing I did not see that nail biting 5 seconds of free fall of 55 lbs. from the ground. =)

   

   And photo compilation pages from ground and air:

   

   Here is the compilation video (or HD version).

   Reply
2. 

   AcroYogi

   Feb 20, 2012 at 12:11 am

   WOW! Now that’s a real world physics lesson!

   Reply
3. 

   Pieces of Eye

   Feb 20, 2012 at 3:34 am

   Do you integrate the acceleration curve to compare numbers with barometric altimeter?

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4. 

   jurvetson

   Feb 20, 2012 at 4:53 am

   Yes, but the baro is better for key event detection, like apogee and main parachute deployment at a pre-programmed altitude (but it gets a bit off during supersonic climbs).

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5. 

   seatonsnet

   Feb 20, 2012 at 12:40 pm

   Off Topic warning: I think you might be interested in this video from none other than the Financial Times: video.ft.com/v/1458268842001/Can-Marx-save-capitalism-

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6. 

   jurvetson

   Feb 20, 2012 at 5:01 pm

   thanks… and yeah, it would be topical over here on my post about a tech-accelerated rich-poor gap.

   Reply