[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
(Fwd) Re: **"OuR" Project press release** (fwd)
Hi all,
I thought I would forward this so those less connected might know of amateur
space technology. With a factor of 5 increase in altitude these folks will
be putting things in LEO. My guess, 3-5 years.
Forwarded message:
> From [email protected] Tue Aug 27 23:25:59 1996
> Message-Id: <[email protected]>
> Comments: Authenticated sender is <[email protected]>
> From: "Stu Barrett" <[email protected]>
> Organization: Personal Business
> To: [email protected]
> Reply-To: [email protected]
> Errors-To: [email protected]
> Precedence: bulk
> X-Listserver: AutoShare 1.0.2fc14 by Mikael Hansen
> X-Administrivia-To: Stu Barrett ([email protected])
> X-To-Unsubscribe: [email protected], body: unsub hct
> X-See-Also: http://www.DDG.com/
> Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 22:53:36 -6
> Subject: (Fwd) Re: **"OuR" Project press release**
> Priority: normal
> X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (v2.23)
>
> Pulled this off of the net. The was even better than SkyeDance IV ;-)
>
> ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>
> Paul Robinson & Ken Mizoi wrote:
> >
> > To All Fellow Rocketeers:
> >
> > The "OuR" project was launched Friday, August 16th, 1996 at 9:05 PST.
> > All available flight data is still being analyzed so any information
> > presented is preliminary and is provided for the courtesy of all those
> > who have supported the "OuR" team.
> >
> > First, the principal members of the "OuR" team are, in alphabetical
> > order, Frank Kosdon, Phil Prior, Paul Robinson, and Jim Rosson. These
> > dedicated souls spent two years of dedicated research and effort, not
> > to mention tens of thousands of dollars, to build and fly the "OuR"
> > project.
> >
> > The R motor is a proprietary engine design with the propellant
> > provided by Frank Kosdon. It was 10.5" in diameter and contained
> > almost 300 pounds of propellant, including a 21 pound, full diameter
> > delay "cake" for tracking. It was calculated to burn for 10.5
> > seconds, and provide 285,000 Newtons of total impulse. Yes, in
> > rocketeer terms an R27,000!
> >
> > The airframe was 21 feet long, with a 5 to 1 conical nose. The gross
> > launch mass was about 700 pounds. On board was a ten watt video
> > downlink, provided by Jon Dunbar, a Trimble GPS, video overlay and
> > associated electronics, provided by Bob Rau, and various other backup
> > electronics. Both main and drouge parachutes were provided by Bob
> > Stroud.
> >
> > The rocket was launched in almost no winds, pointing a few degrees
> > away from the town of Gerlach, NV for safety reasons. The rocket flew
> > perfectly straight and the motor functioned flawlessly with a total
> > activity time around 12 to 14 seconds. The rocket coasted for about
> > 80 seconds, slightly more than calculated, into the ozone layer. The
> > altitude simulations pointed to an expected altitude of just under
> > 100,000 feet. With the increased activity time and increased coast
> > time, the altitude most likely exceeded 100,000 feet.
> >
> > One highlight of this flight was the video data transmitted back to
> > earth from approximately twenty miles in the sky. What was seen was a
> > clear outline of the entire Black Rock Dessert and the surrounding
> > terrain, the curvature of the earth, and the great blackness of the
> > space.
> >
> > Higher altitudes are accessible by smaller rockets, but the intent of
> > this project was to successfully build and fire a "large" rocket
> > motor. Previously, only commercial enterprises have had success with
> > motors of over four inches in diameter and the results of last year's
> > BALLS launch support this presumption. Furthermore, the instruments
> > carried aloft simply would not fit in say a 54mm "altitude optimized"
> > motor.
> >
> > Unfortunately, the rocket failed to deploy its recovery systems and
> > accelerated to over Mach 1 and impacted into the sand dunes several
> > miles away. There was a loud sonic boom heard by all that literally
> > shook the earth. In fact, instead of the nominal "hole and fin slits"
> > seen in previous impacts, there was a twenty foot diameter area with
> > large chunks of sheared earth as if a high energy charge had been
> > detonated under the ground. The rocket was not recovered, but several
> > pieces of metal, fiberglass, and burnt Nomex were found indicating the
> > ejection charges did in fact fire.
> >
> > As more data is analyzed, and more hard facts are gathered, more
> > information will follow. Furthermore, the rights to the video are in
> > the negotiation stage with the various film crews present, but do
> > expect a very detailed video from Earl Cagle of Point 39 Productions.
> >
> > Once again, the "OuR" Project members wish to express sincere thanks
> > to all those who listened, donated, and gave their support who were
> > not specifically named. This project would not have flown if were not
> > for the "believers" and the tremendous team spirit. Only they know
> > the sweat and the number of hours it takes to fly such a rocket.
> >
> > Members of the "OuR" Team
>
> -----------------
> Stu Barrett
> e-mail: [email protected]
> Phone: 512-255-6052
>
> "Out the transceiver, down the coax, through the router, down the
> fiber, off another router, down the T1, past the firewall.....nothing
> but Net."
>