We would like to thank you for getting us to 80% of the goal we set out to reach almost 30 days ago. Your contribution will help ensure our success for this year's competition, so we would like to give you a recap of the past month of this project.
Our goal for this project was to design, test, build, and fly a high-powered rocket capable of carrying and protecting a fragile material to 1 mile in altitude and back to earth successfully. As of now we have accomplished the design portion of our project, and are now beginning the testing phase.
Our rocket is projected to be 9 feet long, have an outer diameter of 6 inches that transitions to 5 inches from the nose to the tail end of the rocket. Overall the rocket will weigh 47 pounds and reach accelerations of up to 7.5 g during launch. We will reach a maximum velocity of Mach 0.6, and reach an altitude of 5,900 feet above ground level. Our drag modulation system (air brakes) will be responsible for attenuating our altitude to 5,280 feet in hopes of winning the target altitude portion of the competition.
Our rocket's airframe will be constructed from rolled carbon fiber and fiberglass tubes In an effort to remain lightweight, but structurally rigid. The nosecone landing system, fins, and internal electronics bay's will be constructed from 3D printed materials, which allows us to be extremely efficient with use of space with the ability to create complex geometry that traditionally cannot be manufactured.
Our fragile material protection system will comprise of an airtight chamber that will be suspended between two fix bulkheads within the rocket's frame. With springs on each side of the chamber, any acceleration experienced by the rocket will be absorbed by the air on either side of the chamber coupled with the spring's. to ensure that the payload experiences smaller forces that the rocket.
On another note, we have now had three different outreach events where we had the privilege of engaging K-12 students in STEM related activities.These young bright students will now have a head start in their lives in making their future a better place to live in.
We have events lined up to see over 300 students in the next coming months, as well as several rocket test launches as we move closer and closer to going to NASA. Help us get there the rest of the way by sharing our project to as many people as possible so that we may reach our goal and be successful!
Thank you again so much!
49er Student Launch Team