Project
127 Flight

Post-flight Analysis

• This was the first flight with the new Corn Syrup / Kno3 fuel and it was spectacular. The parachute was removed because of some last minute problems with the rocket electronics so the we knew beforehand that it would be a ballistic flight. That's the nice thing about using parts from Home Depot is that the rocket is expendable and at only $60 for the rocket AND the engine, tests like this can be done without committing to a large expense. The engine used in the rocket was the same K400 engine static tested on 1230 which produced 1781 Ns and a maximum thrust of 198 lbs.
• Total take-off weight was 15.43 lbs.
• Time from take-off to impact was 40 seconds or approximately 6400 feet.
• Several static tests were done with KnCs Engines to determine the correct moisture content in the fuel to make it flexible, flammable and structurally sound.
• Alberto tested three static engines with SX fuel. Two smaller ones had 4 bates segments (3" by 1.5"), non inhibited free standing, Kn = 783, throat diameter = 0.375", fuel weight = 1 lb.
• One long single grain had one uninhibited free standing grain, 14.5" long and 1.53" wide, Kn = 867, throat diameter = 0.375", fuel weight = 1.47 lb.

Construction

• The body of the rocket was made from 3" cellular ABS which added weight to the rocket but also added structural stability and ease of construction.
• Engine was 2" PVC with a 23" case bonded grain of 60/40 Kno3/Corn Syrup.

Pros

• Aerodynamically stable.
• Powerful.

Cons

• KnCs has a very tight tolerance between flammability and flexibility that is hard to reproduce repeatedly.

Pictures

Video

• Flight. Video is a bit rough because we were short-handed
• Static 01 KnCs
• Static 02 KnCs
• Static 03 KnCs - Gauge was broken
• Static 04 Alberto's SX fuel four grains - Gauge was broken
• Static 05 Alberto's SX fuel, four grains - Gauge was broken
• Static 06 Alberto's SX fuel, single grain - Gauge was broken

Drawings

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