Our Mission Statement

 Launch a high-power rocket to an altitude of one mile carrying the Operation: Epic Beep payload package. At lift off, the rocket’s payload will begin emitting a series of high volume “beeps” at one third-second intervals. These beeps will cease at apogee. By recording and analyzing the beeps, we will be able to determine velocity, acceleration, and altitude of the rocket throughout the duration of its flight. This data will be compared to computer simulation data and onboard telemetry to determine the accuracy of our measurements.

The “Operation: Epic Beep” Team

Main Criteria for an EPIC launch

1. Successful Motor Ignition and Launch 2. Beep Start at Launch 3. Near Vertical Flight to Apogee 4. Proper Beeper Operation Throughout Flight 5. All Beeps Clearly Recorded for Duration of Flight 6. Proper Operation of Altitude and Temperature Loggers Throughout Flight 7. Proper Rocket Performance Throughout Flight 8. Apogee of Approximately 5,280 Feet 9. Drogue Chute Deployment at Apogee 10. Beeper Cut-Off at Drogue Deployment 11. Main Parachute Deployment at 500 Feet 12. Beeper Restart at Deployment of Main (for tracking) 13. Soft Landing of Rocket 14. Proper Operation of Rocket Hunter Tracking System 15. Recovery of Rocket and Data Logging Systems 16. Data from Beeper Comparable to Loggers and Simulation

Rocket Flight Stability in RockSim Diameter: 2.27” CG: 44.2” CP: 47” Margin 1.22 (Stable)

Motor Selection

 Aerotech J-275W-18 54mm Motor Reload  Doctor Rocket RMS 54/852 Motor Casing with end closures  We used Rocksim to determine our motor size

Launch Guide Data

 Launch Guide Length and Angle: 144” at Zero Degrees from Vertical  Velocity at Launch Guide Departure: 82 ft/s  Launch Guide Cleared: 0.34 Seconds  Minimum Velocity for Stable Flight: 44 ft/s Reached at: 42 In.

Parachute Sizes and Descent Rates  18” Nylon 8-Sided Drogue Parachute  58” Rip-Stop Nylon Main Parachute  Recovery System Data  Drogue Deployed at: 17.2 Seconds at Velocity of 10.8 ft/s  Altitude at Deployment: Drogue: 5,257 ft, Main: 500 ft  Recovery Speed 19.7 ft/sec.

Test Plans and Procedures

 Follows NAR regulations  Check for personnel and environmental hazards

Scale Model Flight Test

 January 10 th , 2009, 4:00PM  Behind Denmark Elementary School on public land  Christened “Dark Density”  Purpose to test integration of pods, proof of concept, and parabolic microphone

Scale Model Flight Test

 58% Scale of Dark Doppler  Projected altitude: 2000 Ft.

 Weight: 22 oz.

 Height: 42”  Results:  Stable Flight  Small degree of weather cocking  Soft landing

Challenges Addressed

 Synchronization of beepers  Volume of Beepers  Tracking of rocket with parabolic microphone  Triggering Payload Events  Parachute’s ability to handle weight of rocket

Sound Output Frequency Spectral Analysis This is the test recording, the lines represent the beeps.

Black Powder Ejection Charges

4F Black Powder (grams) = Compartment Diameter2 (inches) x Compartment Length (inches) x .006

  Drogue Powder = 2.175” x 2.175” x 26” x .006 = .74 grams Main Powder = 2.175” x 2.175” x 10.75” x .006 = .31 grams

Dual Deployment Avionics Test

 After extensive testing we determined that more powder was needed. Slowly adding more powder in testing we worked up to the final amounts needed.

Powder Amounts    Drogue = 1.0g

Main = .5g

Motor Ejection (Drogue) = 1.0g

Payload Integration Feasibility

 Main Payload Bay  The temperature logger will be securely mounted and enclosed within the payload bay, located below the nosecone of the rocket.  Located in the nosecone, our battery pack  Porting is constructed for the flow of ambient air into the payload bay.

 Altitude tracking will be accomplished via the deployment altimeter in the avionics bay.

Beeper Pods

 Two high-volume piezoelectric beepers are mounted on the outside of the airframe directly below the nosecone with the sound ports facing down.

 Surrounding the beepers are specially designed, sound-increasing megaphones which will protect the beepers in flight.

Breakdown

36v Battery Pack

Foam Battery Casing (To fit in nosecone) Power hook-up Battery Pack (4 x 9v’s)

Upper Body Tube

Wire Conduit Beeper Pod Wire Conduit Switch Shroud Vent Wire Conduit Beeper Pod

Payload Bay

Temperature Data Logger Magnetic-reed Switch

Beeper Re-Activator

Shroud Micro-Roller Switch Switch Depressor

Safety

     Adhere to MSDS standards Follow shop safety Respect dangerous chemicals and abide by instructions Follow instructions on rocket assembly Use proper safety equipment such as:   Gloves Safety glasses   Masks Ventilation systems

Budget

 Rocket Expenses     Public Relations Donations Fundraising NASA payment $1800 $600 $2305 $2200 Pending...

We are confident at this point of the project, but with the economy outlook, we are not anticipating many more donations.

The planned booyah fundraiser was an EPIC success.

BOOYAH FUNDRAISER

 Besides using booyah as a fundraiser, we displayed our rocket and answered questions to educate the public about our journey of epic rocketry.

Outreach

    We presented rocketry basics to over 150 students from grades 3-7.

We continue to distribute our brochures explaining SLI and our project.

We continue to be showcased in various local newspapers.

In May, we plan to present and display our project at Rockets for Schools at Spaceport Sheboygan.

QUESTIONS?