Axion G4 rocket with boosters

This rocket is being used to test a number of components for the bigger Polaron G2 rocket. We would like to get the G2 to achieve a very long burn of 10+ seconds.

Details from the launch day:

Polaron G2 build log:

How the drop away boosters work:

How the booster parachute deployment works:

[SterremanWillie]

Wow! Great stuff! This launch shows a long learning curve with priceless experience gained with launch release mechanisms, boosters, parachute deployment systems, etc. Looking forward seeing the next step!

[AirCommandRockets]

Thanks bruba95. :) We didn't simulate this flight before hand. Much of it was based on our previous flights with this rocket. It would be nice if the simulators included foam as an option. Foam really changes the thrust profile compared to water alone and so the normal simulation predictions can vary from actual flight.

[AirCommandRockets]

Hi NDogLover, We use the jet foaming technique with the jet foaming spacer to create the foam in flight. Adding foam to the water without the jet foaming, the trails aren't as long. The foam trail with this rocket was a little more diffuse than normal because of the smaller nozzle. The nozzle here had a cross sectional area of ~40% less than the normal 9mm Gardena.

[AirCommandRockets]

Thank you Raketfued. The acceleration was good on this rocket, we haven't worked out what it actually ended up being but a rough calculation shows it would have been close to 13G.

[AirCommandRockets]

It does help the performance. It ends up giving the main stage a greater velocity. We have done this on a number of other flights several years ago.

[FlorinO]

Well done guys! I can hardly wait to see the project completed. Success!

[AirCommandRockets]

Thanks Randy. I'm pretty sure it was mis-aligned fins. I noticed when I was putting the rocket together that one of the fins was at a bit of an angle. This is an old fin-can that we put on and it's always had this issue. I think we'll toss it and make a new one. The camera sticking out the side also doesn't help, and with such a long burn the rocket would have been less stable because of all the water near the tail.

[AirCommandRockets]

You can certainly extend the boosters further for better performance, but you have to pay attention to overall rocket stability, either adding larger fins, or extending the length of the main stage even further so that the center of gravity moves further up. We find that pressurising normal un-reinforced bottles beyond 130psi tends to deform them permanently.

[AirCommandRockets]

Thanks Basrockets. :) Great to hear you're back into the building and launching. Any new projects coming up?

[biggles]

Sensational rocket! I love the boosters being jettisoned, looks fantastic. Well done, fellas. Cheers, b.

[AirCommandRockets]

Thanks for the nice words biggles. :) We had a lot of fun flying this one.

[AirCommandRockets]

I've added a link in the description that shows how the boosters deploy their parachutes. Basically there is a wire attached to the main stage and threaded through the parachute door latch on the booster. As the booster falls away the wire gets pulled out and the door opens and parachute falls out.

[AirCommandRockets]

It's certainly something that is possible, but it is a difficult problem. I have seen attempts done on model rockets with various degrees of success. I have also seen a couple of attempts at roll control to stop the rocket from spinning which also partially worked. I think the key is having fast processors, sensors and actuators to achieve a good result.

[RaketfuedrocketsDeutschland]

A great rocket. perfect work! Wow the acceleration is fantastic!
Greetings

[Basrockets]

Very nice flight guys!

I'm back to make and launch water rockets ! :)

-Basrockets

[mdk]

Good idea. I know the problem that rockets with a small nozzle and a larger volume have a slow acceleration. Adding boosters is a great idea.

[kwinvdv]

I keep wondering if it might help if you would put rudders at the back of each fin and control them with a micro controller to keep the rocket pointing upwards. I do not know if the extra weight would be compensated by the reduction of "steering losses" and if a controller would be fast enough to do the PID calculations.

[Basrockets]

As you have seen in my latest video i have to do some rebuild. And I'm working on a new high pressure rocket with a lot more capacity. So the new project is to get pass the 200m mark. I know that it will take a lot of work. But I'm just gonna go for it!

[AirCommandRockets]

I've added a link in the description that explains in detail how the boosters work. :)

[bruba]

Very, very nice George!
I was just wondering, did you simulate this flight by using the simulation models of Paul Grosse, Dean Wheeler, or others, to get an idea of the performance of this experiment?. Anyway, very nice footage and an awesome experiment again!