Boom, Boom, Pow! 💥 💥 🚀
In 15 years of attending the BALLS Research Rocketry Launch with my son, the largest engine size attempted was an “R” motor, and this weekend, we had three of them at the same time out at the away pads. I was able to get especially close as an event photographer. The two 10″-diameter solid propellant rockets went first, but failed right after ignition. I appears that an overpressure popped the R28000 (I will update the details as I learn more) leaving much of the propellant for our dinnertime bonfire burn. The solid R17000 made a more dramatic fiery boom sending the sustainer stage skyward (first photo). It was an attempt to reach the edge of space, as Branson likes to define it.
Catching these flinch moments in focus takes a bit of luck and lot of practice. But this one made me gasp.
The third R-rocket uses a hybrid liquid-solid motor similar to that used by Virgin Galactic. This Hybradine R10000 has a large liquid nitrous oxide tank (comprising most of the rocket) with rubber propellant in the fin can area. It had a glorious launch this morning, reaching Mach 2.5 and hoping for 100K ft…
Our crew launched three rockets this weekend too. I will share those stories later after going through all our photos.
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