Highlights of recent developments on the DoubleSShot project --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Jeff Moore has kindly set up a new Sugar Shot to Space e-mail list, to replace the now defunct ss-main e-mail list. The previous list server was compromised by spammers and the list owner, Dave McCue, wisely shut down the list. Due to unforeseen issues, getting the new list up and running took much longer than expected. However, that has been resolved and the new list is serving us well so far…! To post to this list send messages to: sugarshot@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe or make changes to your subscription or find list information go to: http://www.freelists.org/list/sugarshot There is an FAQ for Freelists at: http://www.freelists.org/wiki/the_faq -The technical report that Vicente Alvero prepared on his experiments with various ablative materials, as intended for the nose cone tip, has been uploaded to the SS2S website. SStS THERMAL ABLATIVE EXPERIMENTATION PART II STAGNATION POINT http://sugarshot.org/documentation_old.html -Vicente Alvero reports that he has received the wooden mould for Ablative Experimentation No.3 (aerodynamic heating of nose cone). The mould was crafted by Matias Toledano (a volunteer in Spain). This particular testing will be based on the NASA technical report TM-X-1330 (“Performance of Three Ablation Materials During Simulation of Long-duration Afterbody Heating”). Wooden mould: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/aept3_mould-1.jpg (photo courtesy Vicente Alvero) Excerpt from TM-X-1330, illustrating the test article: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/tm-x-1330_figure.pdf NASA TM-X-1330 report download: http://preview.tinyurl.com/l6sftvz -A regular avionics telecon was held Sunday Dec.15. Participants were Chris King, Han Olaf Toft, Rick Maschek and Richard Nakka. Chris described (and provided photos of) the new “Umbilical Box” that he recently constructed for the DSS avionics payload. The box serves two important purposes: to allow for ease of switching between vehicle internal power source and an external power source; provides test points to verify that all power supply busses are functioning correctly. Chris also provided a photo of the tripod and helical antenna arrangement that he prepared. This (donated) antenna will be used for receiving the live video feed from the rocket during flight. Chris additionally reported that he has begun testing of the avionics “motherboard” that he received from Hans a while back. A few glitches have shown up, but nothing serious so far. UFC-4 flight computer with Breakout Box (left) and Umbilical Box (right): http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img-20131214-00040a.jpg Umbilical Box: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img-20131214-00041a.jpg Helical antenna and tripod http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img-20131214-00042a.jpg Avionics motherboard made by Hans: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img-20131216-00046a.jpg (photos courtesy Chris King) - Vicente Alvero has supplied photos of components of the VIC-2 test rocket motor, which is a 106mm (4.2”) M-class motor. This motor will be used for various SS2S related testing of motor components and materials. The initial motor firings will test ablative nozzle liner and a composite nozzle cone. The parts were kindly machined by volunteers in Spain, who’s names have been added to our list of donors: http://sugarshot.org/sponsors.html#Donorservices Drawing of VIC-2 rocket motor: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/vic-2_motor_assembly.pdf VIC-2 Forward Bulkhead being machined: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/osf2a.jpg Completed VIC-2 Forward Bulkhead: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/1mpya.jpg Nozzle being machined: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/7vw4.jpg http://sugarshot.org/downloads/6g97.jpg http://sugarshot.org/downloads/k89z.jpg http://sugarshot.org/downloads/rafe.jpg http://sugarshot.org/downloads/80dh.jpg Completed VIC-2 Nozzle: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/urc9.jpg (photos courtesy Vicente Alvero) -Richard has begun work on fabricating the carbon composite nozzle exhaust cone for the VIC-2 motor. The cone will be fabricated using several plies of donated carbon prepreg, which are to be wrapped around a steel mandrel. Curing is planned to be done in an industrial autoclave at elevated temperature and pressure. The steel mandrel was expertly machined by Alex Canela, a Spanish volunteer who kindly donated his time and effort. Cutting out patterns from roll of carbon prepreg material: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/009a.jpg Mandrel for nozzle cone: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/012a.jpg Pieces of carbon prepreg fabric cut to shape: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/016a.jpg (photos courtesy Richard Nakka) -Rick Maschek reports that the planned test firings of Randy Dorman’s 89mm (3.5”) rocket motor, with DD-slot grains, is a GO for this coming Saturday at the FAR test site. Three test firings are planned, with 2, 4 and 6 grains respectively. If all goes well with these tests, the DSS TM-4 motor will be geared up for test firing early in the new year. -A fundraising raffle will be held in the near future to collect funds to pay for various SS2S projects, such as the ablative experimentations and the VIC-2 motor tests. The prizes for the raffle are several high quality hand tools (all donated). More details will be revealed in the weeks ahead. Some of the tools that will be awarded as prizes: http://sugarshot.org/downloads/img_1201_lot1.jpg (photo courtesy Vicente Alvero) -------------------------- -Sugar Shot to Space is on facebook. Check us out. http://tinyurl.com/2exr92k