Project
903 Flight
Post-flight Analysis
- Four static tests and one flight test were constructed in an effort to gather more information as to the cause of the 806 Sea Launch failures. The PVC glue that was thought to be the cause was replaced with a different manufacturer and type and a duplicate Sea Launch engine was constructed using the faulty glue to static test as a control. The flight engines were all built with new heavy duty PVC glue and primer. All eight engines failed in exactly the same way as the Sea Launch rockets. Based on the information gathered from these tests I assume the following:
- The failure was not caused by the PVC pipe, PVC fittings or PVC glue because:
- A different batch of Schedule 80 PVC was used.
- A different type and manufacturer of PVC glue was used.
- One of the static tests was constructed from Schedule 40 PVC which failed identically to the Schedule 80. The Schedule 40 test was only 12" long and should, under normal circumstances, been able to handle the pressure of a properly burning fuel.
- The failure was not caused by water pressure or anything relating to the sea.
- All of the engines failed exactly the same way they did underwater thus the water had nothing to do with it.
- The failure was somehow caused by the fuel.
- Nothing in the fuel ratio or ingredients has changed. Even the manufacturers of the individual ingredients are the same.
- Somehow, something in the fuel has changed since these 12 successful consecutive tests. 326, 409 and 507.
- Vacuum sealed samples of the fuel were brittle and cracked easily after one week.
- Heating a sample of the fuel to 200 degrees and then applying a small amount of pressure made the fuel loose all it's structural integrity and crumble into dozens of small pieces.
- A test batch, the same size as a full engine, was made with powdered sugar instead of granular sugar. The vacuum sealed sample was flexible 24 hours after casting. It will be interesting to see what condition it is in after one week.
Construction
- A new fairing was added to this rocket to cover the engine section and reduce drag.
- A new fin assembly was used on this rocket to reduce power lost from having the fins in the exhaust stream.
Pros
Cons
Pictures
Video
Drawings
Home
