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Washington State University Aerospace Club

Hybrid Propulsion Timeline

As Part of this year’s rocket design effort we have a great and motivated team working to accomplish some lofty goals. Among those are Solid and Hybrid Propulsion Teams which are working on creating and testing our own propulsion system. Our current plan is to implement the solid propulsion this coming year’s competition, while the Hybrid propulsion system is to be vetted for the following year’s rocket. This team has put together this timeline for the year with plans to test early next year. Here is the Timeline: Wish us luck!

Timeline:

Sept. 27-Oct. 3:

  • Read up on Hybrid Propulsion from the past teams (3-4 Weeks)
  • Prepare and give PowerPoint presentation (Monday)
  • Look into Funding (2-3 Weeks)

Oct. 4-10

  • Read up on Hybrid Propulsion from the past teams (3-4 Weeks)
  • Fuel/Oxidizer Selection (2-3 Weeks)
  • Look into Funding (2-3 Weeks)

Oct. 11-17

  • Read up on Hybrid Propulsion from the past teams (3-4 Weeks)
  • Fuel/Oxidizer Selection (2-3 Weeks)
  • Research fuel grain casting methods (2-3 Weeks)
  • Look into Funding (2-3 Weeks)

Oct. 18-24

  • Read up on Hybrid Propulsion from the past teams (3-4 Weeks)
  • Fuel/Oxidizer Selection (2-3 Weeks)
  • Research fuel grain casting methods (2-3 Weeks)
  • System diagram (3-4 Weeks)

Oct. 19-31

  • Research fuel grain casting methods (2-3 Weeks)
  • System diagram (3-4 Weeks)
  • Assess test stand needs (1-2 Weeks)
  • Research necessary gauges for data collection (2-3 Weeks)

Nov. 1-7

  • System diagram (3-4 Weeks)
  • Assess test stand needs (1-2 Weeks)
  • Research necessary gauges for data collection (2-3 Weeks)
  • Injector selection (1-2 Weeks)

Nov. 8-14

  • System diagram (3-4 Weeks)
  • Research necessary gauges for data collection (2-3 Weeks)
  • Injector selection (1-2 Weeks)
  • Solidworks 3D image of the entire motor and injector (1-2 Weeks)

Nov. 15-21

  • Solidworks 3D image of the entire motor and injector (1-2 Weeks)
  • Injector creation “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify test stand (2-3 Weeks)
  • Efficiency calculations (1-2 Weeks)

Nov. 22-28

  • Injector creation “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify test stand (2-3 Weeks)
  • Efficiency calculations (1-2 Weeks)
  • EES Modeling of motor (1-2 Weeks)

Nov. 29-Dec. 5

  • Injector creation “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify test stand (2-3 Weeks)
  • EES Modeling of motor (1-2 Weeks)
  • Fuel Grain casting “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)

Dec. 6-12

  • Fuel Grain casting “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)
  • Get approval to test fire “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)
  • Test injector water/air “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)
  • Data collection (1-2 Weeks)

Dec. 13-19

  • Get approval to test fire “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)
  • Test injector water/air “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)
  • Modifications to prototype “scaled” (1-2 Weeks)
  • Data collection (1-2 Weeks)

Jan. 10-16

  • Get approval to test oxidizer (1-2 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data (1-2 Weeks)
  • Modify test stand for oxidizer “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Miscellaneous

Jan. 17-23

  • Get approval to test oxidizer (1-2 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data (1-2 Weeks)
  • Modify test stand for oxidizer “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Miscellaneous

Jan. 24-30

  • Modify test stand for oxidizer “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Test fuel/oxidizer “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Make full-scale injector (2-3 Weeks)
  • Make full-scale motor casing (2-3 Weeks)

Jan. 31-Feb. 6

  • Test fuel/oxidizer “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Make full-scale injector (2-3 Weeks)
  • Make full-scale motor casing (2-3 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data for fuel/oxidizer test (1-2 Weeks)

Feb. 7-13

  • Test fuel/oxidizer “scaled” (2-3 Weeks)
  • Make full-scale injector (2-3 Weeks)
  • Make full-scale motor casing (2-3 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data for fuel/oxidizer test (1-2 Weeks)

Feb. 14-20

  • Analyze Data from test (1-2 Weeks)
  • Predict expected data for full-scale test (2-3)
  • Scale up entire design (3-4 Weeks)
  • Modify EES Calculations for full-scale (2-3 Weeks)

Feb. 21-27

  • Analyze Data from test (1-2 Weeks)
  • Predict expected data for full-scale test (2-3)
  • Scale up entire design (3-4 Weeks)
  • Modify EES Calculations for full-scale (2-3 Weeks)

Feb. 28- Mar. 5

  • Predict expected data for full-scale test (2-3)
  • Scale up entire design (3-4 Weeks)
  • Modify EES Calculations for full-scale (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify Test Stand for full-scale (2-3 Weeks)

Mar. 6-12

  • Scale up entire design (3-4 Weeks)
  • Modify Test Stand for full-scale (2-3 Weeks)
  • Cast full-scale Motor (3-4 Weeks)
  • Get approval for full-scale test (2-3 Weeks)

Mar. 13-19

  • Modify Test Stand for full-scale (2-3 Weeks)
  • Cast full-scale Motor (3-4 Weeks)
  • Get approval for full-scale test (2-3 Weeks)
  • Last-minute modifications of full-scale design (2-3 Weeks)

Mar. 20-26

  • Cast full-scale Motor (3-4 Weeks)
  • Get approval for full-scale test (2-3 Weeks)
  • Last-minute modifications of full-scale design (2-3 Weeks)
  • Miscellaneous

Mar. 27- Apr. 2

  • Cast full-scale Motor (3-4 Weeks)
  • Last-minute modifications of full-scale design (2-3 Weeks)
  • Full-scale test of prototype (3-4 Weeks)
  • Solidworks version of prototype body (2-3 Weeks)

Apr. 3-9

  • Full-scale test of prototype (3-4 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data from test (2-3 Weeks)
  • Solidworks version of prototype body (2-3 Weeks)
  • Analyzing of internal piping (2-3 Weeks)

Apr. 10-16

  • Full-scale test of prototype (3-4 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data from test (2-3 Weeks)
  • Solidworks version of prototype body (2-3 Weeks)
  • Analyzing of internal piping (2-3 Weeks)

Apr. 17-23

  • Full-scale test of prototype (3-4 Weeks)
  • Analyze Data from test (2-3 Weeks)
  • Analyzing of internal piping (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify prototype for 2nd test (1-2 Weeks)

Apr. 24-30

  • 2nd Full-scale test of prototype (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify prototype for 2nd test (1-2 Weeks)
  • EES modeling of full-scale rocket (2-3 Weeks)
  • Presentation to Rocket group (2-3 Weeks)

May 1-7

  • 2nd Full-scale test of prototype (2-3 Weeks)
  • EES modeling of full-scale rocket (2-3 Weeks)
  • Presentation to Rocket group (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify full-scale rocket (1-2 Weeks)

May 8-14

  • 2nd Full-scale test of prototype (2-3 Weeks)
  • EES modeling of full-scale rocket (2-3 Weeks)
  • Presentation to Rocket group (2-3 Weeks)
  • Modify full-scale rocket (1-2 Weeks)

Designing a rocket phase 1

We are starting this year with a great turnout for the first meeting 20+ people! For those of you wanting to get involved there are a few things to know.

First of all we are going to move team communication to a teamwork chatroom called slack. I recommend getting the desktop app and mobile app.

Follow the link and create an account

https://wsuaerospace.slack.com/

We are organizing ourselves into the following subteams:

Structures

This team will include but is not limited to Fuselage, Aerodynamics, Interfaces between parts.

Electronics

All things including wires and PCB’s primarily in assistance with the recovery system. Electronics will also likely need to interface with the hybrid propulsion

Recovery

With big plans to make our own ram air parachute, there is a lot of work to do as far as sewing of our own parachute, and the control system with plans to guide it back to the launch site

Payload

The conversation has been started with Pullman high school as we look to a high school senior to design and build a payload to go up in our rocket

Hybrid Propulsion

This is a continuation of ME483 taught last semester, the hybrid team from the class will lead up a team with the club to develop a hybrid propulsion system for our rocket.

Solid Propulsion

Lastly A team is going to be assembled for creation of a custom casted solid rocket motor. Safety being the top priority for both of these teams!

As members new and old select teams keep in mind that nobody is confined to a box by selecting a team, this is just for your primary interest.

Feel Free to email me if there are any issues getting onto slack

Kevin.cavender@wsu.edu

Next up:

We are going to be putting together a house of quality for our rocket the final will be posted on the site.

Carbon Cougar Getting Ready for Maiden Voyage

For those of you not up to date, that voyage is to carry our 10+ lb payload to 10,000 ft. After many design changes the rocket is almost ready to travel to Utah with a fresh coat of paint and an eager team wanting this rocket to succeed. A lot of hard work has been put in over the last month. We were faced with the challenge of adjusting the configuration of the carbon cougar to compensate of the higher launch altitude and it being over 100 degrees outside this week – this meant an underweight rocket needed some mass! With a lack of time and resources to downgrade our engine, we are adding weight to the payload and around the engine casing. Now that 95% of the work is done, we have one final push to make it to competition.

Wish us luck!

We are now NAR level 1 Certified!

This last Saturday we were able to get a member of our club NAR level 1 certified. Hopes are high that we will be able to certify two members to level 2 and fly our main rocket this weekend. The Carbon Cougar is nearly ready to fly only a few last minute adjustments in Mansfield this weekend!

Rocket Flights!

In the spirit of Rocket Flight i feel the need to make an update on current happenings. This may be the most major rocket launches in a single week. Beginning today, over the next 4 days there will be 6 major rocket launches around the world. Launch Companies include ULA, Mitsubishi, TsSKB-Progress (Russian Soyuz), and India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This Saturday marks the beginning of the first one year stay in space by astronaut Scott Kelly aboard the ISS.

For more updates and links visit:

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/launch-schedule/

Structures

IMG_20150311_180217After Many Tests we have finally moved on to doing the full body section! To keep the body stiff we have decided to add a layer of Aero-Mat as an inner layer. This will add the compression strength we need to ensure there is no buckling during the burn of our motor.IMG_20150305_101500

The final body is planned to include one layer of carbon fiber followed by a layer of Aero-Mat followed by two more Layers of carbon Fiber.

Newest Update From the IREC Competition

1/23/15: Rocket Finding Information Updated

We have added some information regarding radio tracking of rockets. The Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club will support tracking of 900 MHz GPS transmitters (which do not require a ham license so you can use them anywhere)

More info at http://www.soundingrocket.org/