Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ƒ/10
100 mm
1/500
125

My son’s Epic rocket has a very unique design; the honeycomb nomex-fiberglass fins hold a rocket motor at each fin tip, and the onboard flight computer lights the central big motor at launch detect. Well, all three fin tip motors need to ignite… Here is the action video with various perspectives, including the rocket cam…

4 responses to “Our Epic Cluster Rocket Fail”

  1. The proud designer DSC04386From the video frame analysis, the flight was doomed from the first 0.1 seconds, as one of the fin tip igniters chuffed out:Screen Shot 2014-10-19 at 6.12.55 PMSo, two of the three tip H motors litScreen Shot 2014-10-19 at 6.14.35 PMAnd the death spiral right off the railIMG_6536The onboard computer lit the central moon burning I motor at launch detect, and it comes up to pressure now…horizontally!IMG_6537But… the baro sensor detected no vertical climb, and thus deployed the apogee drogue parachuteScreen Shot 2014-10-19 at 6.57.03 PM180° oops…. a rare perspective for a rocket cam!Screen Shot 2014-10-19 at 6.57.12 PMand down she comesIMG_6546
    Repairs are only needed at the fins, and it should take less than a half hour. We are already strategizing better ways to make sure all three motors light (different propellant, and a pyrogen dip for the igniters).

  2. Yep! Sometimes failure can be a fun adventure. Always a learning experience. As my elementary school teacher used to say "onwards and upwards".

  3. Yes! And here’s a recovery shot by Ryan: _MG_5428

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