David J. McCue wrote:
> I find the mean-spirited nature of this comment diffficult to understand.
I'm SURE Randall didn't mean it in anything but the nicest way. I
think what he's trying to point out is that one static test does not a
rocket make.
> Perhaps there is a misunderstanding about the funding or organization of
> the project, but this development program survives on the efforts of
> volunteers and a bit of money and space donated by the University.
Perhaps you're unfamiliar with ERPS's funding or organization. We're
self-funded (ie out of members' pickets) and we don't have any
affiliated University, no engineering courses, no undergrad students
and less time to work on things because most of us are working stiffs
with Bosses.
Despite this we've done lots of static tests of engines (and need to
do more) BECAUSE reliability and numbers are important. XCor has
several hundred (or is it several thousand now) static runs on their
engines because reliability must be a key factor.
I don't want to sound callouse at all, but don't trust a payload of
any kind to a vehicle powered by an engine that's only been tested
once. It's asking for the kind of trouble you found. Even lots of
static tests are no guarentee that your engine will perform the same
way in flight because the dynamics are quite different.
I know it's not as much fun to go test your engine again and again and
again but it is necessary. Numbers are what separates the engineer
from the amateur. There's no substitute for lots of numbers when you
want to risk a payload. Admittedly you're not putting people on the
vehicle (yet), but would you have let your mother ride on a vehicle
knowing the engine had only 1 successful test??
Those on this list are intimately familiar with the efforts needed to
get a vehicle into reliable flight status. We've been through it.
We've tested extensively and STILL had snafus. We're not trying to be
mean-spirited. We're both reminiscing on our own mistakes and hoping
you'll learn from our (and your own) hard lessons.
Michael
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Wallis KF6SPF (408) 396-9037 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Oma Disala:
"The universe is vast and we are so small; there is only one thing we
can truly control: whether we are good or evil."
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