USLI Flight Readiness Review Harding University Flying Bison 2010 USLI Rocket Team

Harding Flying Bison Team Team made up of 16 members with diverse educational backgrounds: GregLibbyElizabeth HunterMatt G.April JoshLisaDarah ChiPatrickMatt I. MeredithCortneyShailer Ed

Organization Seven Divisions Airframe Greg, Mgr. Motor Matt G., Mgr. Science Payload Darah, Mgr. Avionics Chi, Mgr. Launch OperationsMatt I., Mgr RecoveryPatrick, Mgr. Outreach Elizabeth, Mgr. Team Official & Safety Officer Ed Project ProgressCortney

Mission Statement Design, build, test and fly a hybrid rocket Achieve an altitude of exactly 1.00 mile Measure gamma radiation as a function of altitude Measure temperature and pressure Measure x-, y-, z- acceleration during flight Done safely with no injuries, no damage to property Rocket recovered without damage

Airframe Length93.55 inches 7.5 feet Diameter4.09 inches Span Diameter14.09 inches Estimated Mass ounces15.03 pounds

Airframe Center of Pressure72.22 in Center of Gravity55.0 1in Margin of Stability4.30 body calibers over stable

Scale Model Test & Competition Rocket Test We were not able to do a scale model test as planned because some key supplies were missing. We found out in the process that our ignition system has become defective. We are purchasing a new unit. We plan our full scale test on 21 March 2010.

Thrust to weight motor selection in flight simulation Average Thrust = 896 N Mass g g = kg Weight = kg Thrust to weight ratio = 20.7

Rail Exit Velocity Launch guide length: In. Velocity at launch guide departure: ft/s The launch guide was cleared at : Seconds User specified minimum velocity for stable flight: ft/s Minimum velocity for stable flight reached at: In.

Parachute sizes and descent rates Drogue is a 24” Classic II Sky Angle Parachute P: Drogue Parachute Deployed at : Seconds Velocity at deployment: ft/s Altitude at deployment: Ft. Main is a SkyAngle CERT-3 Large. P: Main Parachute Deployed at : Seconds Velocity at deployment: ft/s Altitude at deployment: Ft.

SkyAngle Cert-3 Parachute PropertyValue Tested Load Capacity16.2 to 35 lb Surface Area57 square ft Suspension Line80 in 4 - 5/8" mil-spec suspension lines2250 lbf Swivel1500 lbf

Test plans and procedures Tensile strength tests run for: Shock cord – 3/8 in. Kevlar U-Bolts – ¼ in diameter Knots – Bowline Bulk plates/coupler

Test Configuration

U-Bolts, Shock Cord, Bulk Plates

Failure at 1000 lbf Tests stopped after Kevlar cord began to fray at 961 lbf at the knot The Kevlar shock cord would not have separated until more force applied

Further Required Testing Full scale flight test - planned for 21 March 2010 Dual deployment avionics test test - planned for 21 March 2010 Ejection charge amount test test - planned for 21 March 2010 Payload integration feasibility – Payload is fully integrated into the rocket

Payload Science payload consists of: – Flight computer number 1 – Flight computer number 2 – Embedded microcomputer system – Radiation counter – Temperature sensor – Pressure sensor – x-, y-, z- accelerometers – Battery power supply

Payload Science instruments, flight computers, recovery transmitter and batteries fit inside 3.78 in diameter by 12.0 inch long phenolic coupler tube Switches,status LEDs, computer connectors mounted on ring in the middle of the coupler

Payload Science Payload Objectives. Test and calibrate a Geiger-Mueller radiation counter Interface Geiger counter to embedded controller to operate the instrument and collect and store the data. Test the complete instrument mounted in the airframe using laboratory alpha, beta and gamma radiation sources. Test and calibrate pressure sensor Test and calibrate a temperature sensor Test and calibrate a low sensitivity and a high sensitivity 3- axis accelerometer

Payload State the payload success criteria Payload success will be achieved if all the sensors perform satisfactorily and data from each is collected and stored in the on-board computer memory.

Science Payload

Payload Side profile of science payload with circuit boards and batteries mounted

Motor Contrail Rockets Certified K-888-BM Hybrid Motor Diameter of motor75 mm Length of Motor40.0 inches Nozzlemedium Fuel Grain UsedBlack Smokey

Motor Exit end of nitrous tank showing fill and overfill lines

Motor Ignition -- Pyrodex Pellets Ignited with Resistors

Motor Motor Manufacturer Contrail RocketsTest Date22 May 2005 Motor DesignationK-888-BM-PCertified UntilIndefinitely TMT Metric Designation K896(87%)Samples per second480 Metric Dimensions76 mm x 1016 mmBurn Time2.67 seconds Total Weight4173 gTotal Impulse2400 Ns Recovery Weight3992 gMaximum Thrust N Fuel Grain Weight625 gAverage Thrust896 N Nitrous Oxide Volume 2050 cm 3 Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc., Certification

Motor

Avionics The recovery subsystem is composed of the following components: PerfectFlite MiniAlt/WD to measure and store altitude and deploy drogue and main parachutes. DT2x Data Transfer Kit for connecting MiniAlt/WD to computer G-Wiz MC-2.0 Flight Computer to provide redundant backup of the PerfectFlite Nine pin female to female cable with subminiature D connectors to connect G-Wiz MC-2.0 to computer

Avionics Software to download data from G-Wiz Ejection charges with electric matches to deploy parachutes SkyAngle Main Parachute with 57 square feet SkyAngle Drogue Parachute with 6.3 square feet Shock cord – to be determined Walston Retrieval System with Rocket Transmitter, 3-Channel Receiver, and 3-element Antenna

Avionics Dual Deployment Avionics Test Test planned for 21 March 2010 PerfectFlite MiniAlt/WD Official USLI Altimeter and Flight Computer

Avionics G-WIZ MC-2 Backup Altimeter and Flight Computer

Launch Operations We plan to assemble the motor ahead of time, so that all we have to do is load the nitrous Draft Launch Plan in Appendix A in CDR, Page 29

Recovery Ejection Charge Amount Test Test planned for middle of 21 March 2010 Walston Retrieval System for Rocket Locating SkyAngle 24 in for Drogue SkyAngle Large Cert-3 for Main

Acknowledgement We gratefully acknowledge support from NASA/Arkansas Space Grant Consortium A part of the National Space Grant Program