N Project: 6" Glass Fibre/Carbon Fibre Rocket, Part 1

Detail shots of the carbon fibre/glass fibre fin unit destined for the 6" glass fibre/carbon fibre N-motor rocket constructed for the BALLS 10 experimental launch held at Black Rock Desert in Nevada, in 2000. The fin unit was designed by the project's initiator, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Professor Eugene Trubowitz.

Top photo shows trial assembly of the fin unit components in Zurich, Switzerland, in June 2000. Second picture, taken at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in July 2000, shows the fin unit components epoxied and fitted with laminated fin joint reinforcements.

Bottom photo shows finished fin unit epoxied into 6" glass fibre booster section of the rocket. Also visible are the integral fin unit access ports and the epoxy joints inside the booster section. To the right of the 6" rocket lies the aluminum booster section of the N-Project's 4" aluminium/glass fibre/carbon fibre rocket. The welds joining the aluminium fins to the booster section have been faired with as of yet unsanded fillets.

Black Rock Desert N Project

The three rockets of the N project, photographed at what was then the Leonhardstrasse 21 machine shop of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, in September 2000. From left: 4" aluminium/glass fibre/carbon fibre rocket, 4" glass fibre/carbon fibre rocket, and, behind it, 6" glass fibre/carbon fibre rocket. All three rockets were designed to be powered by Aerotech N2000 composite motors in Dr. Rocket 98 mm aluminium motor cases.

The N project was conceived by Professor of mathematics Eugene Trubowitz, who generously invited me to be a main partner in this extraordinary endeavour. We were supported by a fantastic team of friends as well as Federal Institute of Technology students. Two of the rockets were eventually launched during the BALLS 10 launch at Black Rock Desert in Nevada, USA, in September and October of 2000.