Launch pressure was a modest 155 psi.
Test was to see if the coupler mechanism would work.
The sustainer release timer was set on 4 seconds, the chute release on 9 seconds.
Water fill 3L, pressurization and LAUNCH.
First part of the flight went ok (straight up), but then after burnout the rocket combo started to make a curve and at sustainer release after 4 seconds the rocket was almost horizontal.
The release of the sustainer went with the characteristic popping sound of the launchtube after separation and could clearly be heard on the ground.
The sustainer speeded away, almost horizontal........ and went out of sight. (Who had the stupid idea to paint the fins blue??).
Saw no chute release so i had only a rough guess on the direction where to look for the sustainer.
After about one hour of searching we (my daughter came to help me) found the sustainer with a bleeping altimeter, 484ft. Distance from the launcherplatform was about 500m.
So no height record this time but surely my personal best for the longest distance between launcher and touchdown!.
Nosecone and chute bay where damaged and to my surprise the balsa fins survived the crash intact.
Visible in the flight logging (below) is the sustainer release after 4 seconds as it gained a little extra upwards speed ( and a lot horizontal speed, but this is not recorded with the altimeter).
Plan for the next launch is:
- Repair the damage
- Recalculate the sustainer fins (smaller?)
- Make larger fins for the booster.
- But most important of all: Paint the sustainer RED !!
