On Thu, 26 Sep 2002, Randall Clague wrote: > >Micro-Space, Inc. successfully launched and recovered a > >bipropellant rocket Sept 22, 2002 at the TRA "BALLS" event in the > >Black Rock Desert. Hydrogen Peroxide and Methyl Alcohol were the > >fuels used for the sustainer motor in this CRUSADER IV rocket. > >A leaking check valve reduced the motor thrust and flight time for > >this flight.
Peroxide+methanol+leaking valve... IMO it would be a very bad thing if this lead to people following in their path, at least as far as propellant choice is concerned. I see a real possibility of something nasty happening, and HTP getting the blame instead of the combination HTP+miscible fuel. It wouldn't be the first time that HTP alone took the blame for an accident caused by poor design choices + HTP. That would shut down access to TRA events by ERPS and anybody else who took the HTP path, regardless of fuel choice. HTP has enough superstitious fear associated with it as is. > >The four inch diameter rocket cleanly exited the launch > >tower, flew an accurate vertical trajectory, and descended under > >parachute as planned. Telemetry data was received throughout the > >flight. The high mass ratio offered by this technology will be > >essential for later space launch efforts. This version of the rocket, > >fully fuled, would exceed 3.5 mass ratio. Congratulations to Micro-Space on their success. I hope they change their mind about the fuel, though. ......Andrew -- Andrew Case | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
