Tuft Testing with Xodiac

Tufts, which are short pieces of string, are temporarily affixed in a grid-like pattern around the area(s) of interest.

By adding body panels of specific shape and size we can tailor the aerodynamic characteristics of our Xodiac rocket. Using the tuft video and vehicle data we can then determine during post-flight analysis how effective everything was and repeat the testing with any needed changes until we achieve the pointing targets.

The goal for us in doing this is to use aerodynamics to passively roll the vehicle to the desired angle, in the direction of flight, for a specific payload need ie. ground surveying optics or lasers. This is a low cost and technically efficient solution for when we have to repeatably fly the vehicle in a very specific orientation with respect to the ground.

Ultimately this can reduce our RCS requirements for a given trajectory allowing the RCS system to be sized for fine pointing control or in-flight trimming.

The panels have a minimum velocity at which they start to be effective and below that point, the vehicle behaves as if the panels were not in place.

[sesander]

There is something just amazing to me about the center of mass thrust-balance achieved on these smaller vehicles. It looks like magic but it takes, in some cases, a lifetime of engineering and development before getting it right. My hat is off to you gentlemen...and ladies, if any.

[piotrstarzycki]

I like how it closes its fuel valve at the end. :D cool rocket!

[mohamedfaroukbouklihacene]

what are the actuators for the thrust vector control? jacks perhaps?

[videolabguy]

My curiosity was raised when I saw the title proclaiming tufts on, what I had imagined up to this point, was a lunar lander. Thank you for the epiphany.

Are terrestrial uses of this type of platform cost effective? How about hopping large payloads very short distances? Heavy equipment across wild rivers. Generator to a mountain top? It can obviously fly where helicopters can't.

[icannotfly]

that's not a water bottle taped to the left of the nozzle, is it?

[onjofilms]

My favorite part is 1:31 when the valve squeakley closes.

[pseudotasuki]

It's like sailing… except with a rocket engine.