Transcript Yough Cougar Rocketry Team Herminie, Pennsylvania Project Dorothy NASA SLI 2008

Yough Cougar Rocketry Team
Herminie, Pennsylvania
Project Dorothy
NASA SLI 2008
Critical Design Review
Amy Rene’ Bickerstaff
Team Lead
Vehicle Design
Scheduling Manager
Ashley Wiley
NAR & FAA Regulations
Flight Control
Payload
Stephanie Abbott
Safety Operations Manager
Josh Sarosinski
Hazardous Materials
Environmental Concerns
RockSim Drawing of
Dorothy II
The center of gravity is located 11 inches aft of the coupler.
This design is to allow a helicopter style descent rather than
a ballistic trajectory in the event of recovery failure.
Currently there is a 4.97 caliber level of stability.
No wobble has been detected in smaller scale test launches
thus far, which should indicate successful flight of the full scale design.
General Assembly of
Dorothy II
General Arrangement of
Dorothy II
Outline of Dorothy II
Thrust Data for L1150
Thrust data for L900RR
Launch Rail Exit Velocities
• The Aerotech L1150 motor
• 48.9 ft/sec
• Animal Motor Works L900RR
• 35.65 ft/sec
The L1150 provides a sufficient velocity to ensure
stable flight from a 60 inch rail.
The L900RR would need a 90 inch rail to achieve
a desired rail exit velocity of 44 ft/sec.
Descent Rate of Dorothy II
• Classic 60 SkyAngle Parachute
• 30.06 ft/sec
• Large SkyAngle Cert - 3 Parachute
• 24.31 ft/sec
• XL SkyAngle Cert - 3 Parachute
• 17.12 ft/sec
Data gathered from
http://www.onlinetesting.net/cgi-bin/descent3.3.cgi
Ejection Charge Test
• 4 inch tubing with aluminum bulkplate
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Glow plug ignition
• 4 inch coupler, 4 inches in length with
bulkplate to form piston
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Attached to the aluminum bulkplate with stainless steel cable
Stainless steel cable cut to a length to prevent piston ejection from
tube
• 4 inch coupler, 30 inches in length to
mimic sabot
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Will impact nosecone bulkplate
• Test nosecone created
Ejection Charge Amount
• 20 psi desired inside airframe
• Piston style ejections use less powder
• Equation shows only .64 grams of powder
required to eject
• CDR Recovery Subsystem
• Multiple tests to ensure proper ejection
Ejection Test Procedure
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Slide piston into airframe
Measure 1 gram of 4Fg powder
Pour powder into chamber
Insert chamber into airframe
Insert coupler tube into airframe
Install nosecone by attaching U-bolt
Secure test apparatus
Energize glow plug
Ejection Charge Testing
Ejection Charge Testing
The piston design proved to be very successful.
Using 1 gram of 4Fg powder, the nosecone was
sent about 20 feet into the yard. The only issue
discovered was that the bulkplate in the piston
separated from the tubing. This will be corrected
by using HP-20E Hysol epoxy rather than the
slow cure CA glue.
1/4 Scale Test Flight
» Click the link to view the video of the
test launch.
 Windows Media Player
» Windows Media Player of Quarter Scale Dorothy Rocket
 QuickTime Video File
» Apple QuickTime of Quarter Scale Dorothy Rocket
Notes from Scale Launch
 Quest A6-3 motor used
 10 - 15 mph winds, gusts to 20 mph
 Nearly perfectly vertical flight during
the thrust portion of the flight
 Very little drift during coast phase
 Ideal launch considering a low thrust
motor was selected
Deployment System
• PerfectFlight LC800 Dlx Altimeters
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Dual Event Logging
Ejection at Apogee via pressure sensor
Main ejection at 800 feet
One powder charge with two E-matches
Piston pushes Sabot with parachute
Sabot peels away
• Still retained by kevlar chord
• All pieces remain attached to the launch vehicle
Electronics
Sabot Ejection System
• Fiberglass coupler cut in half to form sabot
• Fiberglass bulkplate, hinged in the center to allow
sabot opening
• Forward portion of sabot impacts nosecone bulkplate
upon ejection sheering the nylon pins
• SkyAngle parachute begins to deploy
• Whirlybirds begin to disperse when sabot peels back
• Payload protective bags not required
– May still be used to eliminate burning of parachute
Payload Integration
• Split Sabot contains all payload
– Whirlybirds placed along main axis
– Main parachute above whirlybirds
• Upon ejection, sabot opens to release parachute and
whirlybirds
• No payload protection required as piston contains ejection
gases
• Odd shaped items work easily inside sabot since they do
not need to slide up the airframe for ejection
Community Outreach
 Computer Refurbishing and Sales
 Computers saved from landfills
 Community can purchase internet ready computers at very low
cost
 Chinese Auction
 Items donated from Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins
 Seven Springs Mountain Resort
 Giant Eagle Food store
 Westmoreland Mall
 Westinghouse
 Display during lunch
 Funding
Funding Issues
 Student Outreach Drastically Modified
 Quest Starhawk rockets to be given away
during Chinese Auction sale days
 Rocket Fair to pick prizes and launch rockets
 $ 3780 raised selling computers
 $ 1500 for candy sales
 Are we going to make it ???
SLI Grant monies
 $1250 SLI grant uses ( all gone !!! )
 Purchase Quest Starhawk rockets
 $ 300
 Purchase Quest Flight Packs for launches
 $ 177
 Replacement Parts lost during SLI 2007
 Over $ 500 so far
 FedEX fees for shipping
 $ 300
Exit 8 - Huntsville
» Huntsville Trip in April
» Trip Total estimated to be - $ 6875
» Airfare - $275 per ticket - $ 2750 total
» Lodging - $425 per room - $ 2125 total
» Meals - $200 per person - $ 2000 total
Looking into the Future
Complete construction of Dorothy II
Perform ejection charge testing
Continue analysis of whirlybird flight
Attempt construction of Data Ball
Launch 66% scale version with payload
Continue fundraising efforts
In Closing
Great Progress has been made
Learned from last year
New members working well
More is being accomplished
Improved design of deployment
Piston / Sabot ejection system
Money is an issue
Funding changes need addressed
Keep working hard
Rewards are coming soon
Thank you
NASA’s MSFC makes it happen