Our high altitude work is just to top of a large pyramid of research going on at JPA. We just completed the 178th firing our our hypersonic shock tube.
The shock tube is a short duration high speed wind tunnel. We use it for developing the plasma drag reduction systems in the ATO program.
We conducted our 110th MHD firing Saturday. We got a great electrical power output. The motor had an odd start up.In the first fraction of a second you can see the motor throwing fuel fragments. By the time we get a 1/4 second into the firing the motor settled down into it’s normal pattern.
The shock tube just keeps getting longer. This is the internal burst tool segment.We will start pushing to Mach 4 this weekend.
JPA is becoming the worlds space program.
In celebration of the UAE’s 43rd national day JPA flew the UAE flag to the edge of space. It was a great mission and adventure. The first vehicle, Away 111, verified winds aloft and the second vehicle, Away 109 was our largest Away vehicle ever at just over nine feet long. It carried carried a huge 8 X 4 foot flag, signs from our sponsor, four HD cameras and the first 50 PongSats from the middle east.
Yesterday we tested the magnetic emergency drop weights on Bellavia. We had the magnets hold the 40 pound each weights for two and a half hours then hit the drop switch.
The general layout of the drop weight test harness:
One of the big missions coming up in 2015 is the first dive of our submarine, Bellavia.
The most important part of PongSat is when they arrive back in the hand of their makers.
OK, which one is going to walk on Mars? Which one is going to the moon? All of them have been to the edge of space! Great job!!!!!!!
This Saturday the JP Aerospace Beyond Geek Episode airs! In Sacramento it will be on KVIE2 at 6 pm. It features the Airship to Orbit Project and lots of PongSats! Please share this and get the word out!
When is it playing in your area?
This weekend we conducted another test inflation of Ascender 26. In this test we fitting in the keel, inner helium cells and starboard helium transfer tube.
Internal keel
The view from Away 104 from Away 103 at 85,000 feet. In the blowup insert on the right you can just make out the vehicle under the balloon.
