First Post

1/4-scale Patriot

So this is my lame attempt at creating a simple web page that I can easily maintain. Editing HTML by hand is too much of a hassle. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

So, I've attempted to post a picture of my rocket up there. I haven't named this one. Usually I like to give them names -- not titles like "The Terminal Blaster Master" or "Big Pink Kablooey", but real names, like "Frank" and "Robert". And "Corndog". You know. Anyway. So I'm going to try and use this site as a way to keep track of some of the things I'm doing. I hope it's not too cumbersome to do anything detailed.

So I just got back from a business trip to the naval base in PAX River, Maryland. Not gonna talk about that here (no work!). Last weekend I went to Centreville, Maryland and got my Level 1 High Power Rocketry certification. It took two tries. The first time my rocket (the Patriot above) fell 1800 feet sans parachute and landed on its side with a thud. Very nice, very good for the paintjob. Next month, Level 2!

I also tried out Jujubee for the first time ever. That's basically a system I'm working on with a small rocket and a compressed gas launcher. The idea is that the compressed gas gets the mass of the rocket moving, and then the rocket engine takes over mid-flight and keeps it moving. This way there is (in theory) no limit to the amount of energy you can add to the rocket without actually increasing its weight any. The idea appeals to me for, say, launching something into space, where you really only need a good strong push at the beginning and then you can practically coast after that. So anyway, how did it go? On the first try, I was loading the rocket into the back of the launch tube, and the switch that detects whether it's in the tube or not tripped accidentally, and it ignited right in my hand. It shot sparks everywhere, blew its ejection charge, and then smoked for a minute. So that was cool, anyway. Then I put it in the launcher to test that part. It flooped out the end, pretty pathetic but it at least partially worked... However on subsequent tests, it shot out of the tube maybe 20 feet up, but failed to ignite the rocket engine! This resulted in it lawn-darting into the ground like a tent stake. Pulling the armed-but-unfired rocket out of the ground was a little like trying to clear a Bouncing Betty out of your path. Well, it's fun to pretend it was that dangerous, anyway.

So, this month. Working on my Level 2 certification (studying the tests, prepping the Patriot, etc) and getting Jujubee to work. I have lots of other things I want to do, but those are the top priority.