The final instalment in the series of photos depicting the various stages of the construction and launch of our 4" aluminium/glass fibre/carbon fibre N-motor rocket in autumn of 2000.
Top photo shows the smoke trail after launch on Saturday afternoon, September 30, 2000, photographed from the LCO's position. Propelled by the Aerotech N2000 motor, the vehicle literally leaped off the launch pad with astounding speed. The rocket ascended perfectly straight and stable, and the scattered smoke trail was thus caused by the range of winds at various altitudes over the Black Rock desert. Our team had previously calculated an approximate peak speed or Mach 2.2 and an approximate peak altitude of 10 kilometres.
A few moments after launch, however, two bangs could be heard from above, and observers further away saw the motor case fly through a cloud of debris and continue upward, still under power. At around two kilometres of altitude, as the rocket accelerated within the supersonic speed range, the glass fibre section of the airframe failed where it was connected to the motor case and electronics bay. The motor case with its welded aluminium fins subsequently continued a fairly stable flight to apogee.
The lower four photos show the recovered remnants of months of design, work, and financing. Almost all parts of the rocket were found, and we were thus able to reconstruct and confirm the sequence of events. As previously noted in this series, the electronics bay assembly was likely too delicate for the aerodynamic loads to be encountered.
The high-speed break-up shredded parts of the glass fibre airframe section and even sheared off a large section of the carbon fibre nose cone. It was difficult to determine how much of the damage at the top of the motor case was caused by the break-up and how much by the motor case's subsequent impact on the hard surface dry lake.
All electronics as well as the Rocketman drogue and main parachutes were damaged beyond repair. At least two of the aerodynamic fillets covering the aluminium welds were devoid of paint, indicating strong movement and stress, likely caused by the impact on the ground.
In spite of this dramatic result of the flight, I felt the entire effort was well worth it. Not only did it amount to a significant gain of theoretical and practical knowledge, it also was an experience to last a lifetime.
The next day, Sunday, October 1, 2000, would see our team launching the sister ship, the 4" glass fibre/carbon fibre rocket.
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