This fall we will be conducting two rocket launches. One rocket will be a three and a half inches in diameter and eight foot long. The other Will be six inches in diameter and twelve feet long. Both rockets are upgrades of what we’ve flown before.
The three inch diameter rocket will have the biggest change. Our earlier version used a phenolic airframe reinforced with Kevlar in key areas. We flew that version to 72,232 feet. The new rocket will have thin carbon shells over a nomex honeycomb core. It will need all new molds for the airframe and nose cone.
The bigger rocket, The ML, will be casted from the existing molds. It will likely be the last one off the existing molds. Later it will also be upgraded to shell and honeycomb core airframe type. We were going to upgrade both to the new airframe, but new molding for the big one will a bit much for now. The existing airframe will still meet the mission goals for one more flight.
ML and 3inch diameter rocket ML-1
3 inch diameter rocket in flight.
For us rockets are not an end themselves. They are a tool for airship development. They will serve as delivery vehicles for Mach Gliders and testbeds for engine and drag reduction technologies.
Hi there, on the ML do you have any estimates on how much weight you will save with a honeycomb core??
Just Curious
Todd
We should save about 30 ounces on each stage. That’s about 25% reduction of the airframe (tube only) weight.
JP