Students in the University of Illinois' Aerospace Engineering 100SD class launched their semester project rockets at the CIA's site near Flatville on Saturday, November 4. All the rockets were modified BSD 38 Special kits powered by Aerotech J350-L motors. The class built the payloads, consisting of an RDAS on-board data recorder and telemetry system with GPS, and either a still or video camera to take pictures during the flights. They will download and analyze the data from these flights to complete their semester projects. CIA assisted in the design and construction of the rockets and payloads, and ran the launch operation.
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CIA-Rocketry > Preparing to insert the payload into the fourth rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > The fourth rocket at the moment of ignition. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > The parachute on the fourth model ejected properly but did not open through most of the descent. After looking closely at this photograph, we figured out why: one of the tubing couplers used to reinforce the inside of the rocket body came out at ejection and partially encased the parachute. You can see the rocket and payload sections connected by their shock cord; the cylindrical object between them is the coupler with the parachute still inside it. There were some heart-stopping moments as we wondered whether the entire rocket was going to crash, but in the end, the 'chute freed itself and opened just a couple hundred feet above the ground. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > Luckily, the parachute finally opened about 200 feet above the ground, just a couple of seconds before the rocket would have impacted. So this rocket landed safely, and much closer to the launch area than any of the others. The coupler that came loose is still visible here on the shock cord about one body length above the rocket body on the left. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > Students load the fifth and final class rocket on the pad. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > Loading the payload in the final rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > The fifth and final AE100SD rocket just after ignition, with the flame of the motor lighting up the smoke cloud from within. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > Beautiful, straight liftoff of the last class rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
CIA-Rocketry > Recovery of the fifth rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
Preparing to insert the payload into the fourth rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
> Preparing to insert the payload into the fourth rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
Preparing to insert the payload into the fourth rocket. Photo by Greg Smith
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