TR-1 MOTOR CASING

With this drawing, I now pretty much have all the drawings that I need to begin cutting metal in earnest.  I plan to go back and update these drawings.  I don't really need a drawing for the bulkhead as it's identical to the nozzle ring in thickness, o-ring gland placement, and retaining screw locations.

TR-1 PROPELLANT SEGMENT DESIGN

I plan to use a 4" ULINE mailing tube as the casting tube/inhibitor for this motor. This particular tube has a wall thickness of 0.080" and allows for a bit of insulation to fit between the propellant segments and the casing wall.  The motor is designed to use a propellant grain consisting of six segments.  Each segment should weigh approximately 4.75 lbs (2.15 kg)  for a total propellant load of approximately  28.5 lbs (13 kg).

TR-1 ROCKET MOTOR UPDATE

It been almost exactly one year since I started this motor...far too long.  SStS has been going very slowly and in spite of some recent progress, I suspect that the the way forward will continue to be a slow progression.  Back when I started getting really involved with amateur rocketry thirteen years or so ago, I was designing, making, testing, and flying much more frequently.  I think in those early days, once I joined the Reaction Research Society there was so much excitement in going to the launches.  The first event that I went to included zinc/sulfur, LOX/kerosene, HTPB, and sugar .  Within the next few months I saw many more of those and added steam, HTP, and a variety  of hybrids, good times.  I don't know that I can get back to that level of activity anytime soon, but Theo definitely enjoyed the desert, the rockets, and the people so we should make a point to go more than once a year.  With that in mind I'm making a conscious effort to finish the TR-1 motor ASAP.

Here is the next part to be made. 

This is a fairly heavy motor, but it won't matter.  With 1000 lbs of thrust there is no doubt in my mind that it will get itself off the ground when it's time to.  The purpose is to build something relatively simple and at low cost, and to sharpen my skills before moving on to a larger project that I've been toying with for the past 10 years or so.  There is some excess material in this design, so the part could go through a weight reduction process, but there is really no point for a static test.

SUGAR SHOT TO SPACE SUCCESSFUL FIRING

The Sugar shot to Space project had a much needed successful firing this past weekend.  After the spectacular CATO of the impressive DoubleSShot motor nearly one year ago there was a lot of discussion and investigation into what exactly happened and why.  This test represents the first in a series that will lead SStS to the successful firing of one of the largest amateur motors of all time.  Certainly the largest "Sugar" motor of all time.
Congratulations to Rick Maschek, Paul Avery, and Richard Nakka for their dedication and perseverance, as well as the many other numerous volunteers that have contributed to the project.

SStS, CSD UPDATE



Chamber Separation Disk (CSD) in the Mid-Bulkhead

I completed the modifications to the MBH ,CSD, and plug recently.  The entire DSS TM-1-2 test motor is now with another project member undergoing hydrostatic testing. There seems to be a lot of mixed feelings about this approach, I'm just hoping it works.  Hopefully the testing goes well and we can get to a test firing soon. 

SStS Motor Work Update

I've nearly completed the work on the MidBulkHead modifications, all I have left to do is to countersink the 24 holes on the outside edge.  This draft of the motor design shows how the CSD or disk is held by the MBH.

Sugar Shot motor work

I've begun work on modifying some existing hardware for a new SStS motor. This design will incorporate a new non-pyrotechnic device to separate the two motor chambers.  In theory the Chamber Separator Disk has a number of benefits over the pyrotechnic "plug".  This document explains the concept and you can see some of the analysis  that Ben Brockert has been working on here.  Pretty simple in theory.  This newest motor will also feature a return to the Bates grain configuration.  For more info on this motor and other recent updates, please check the Sugar Shot weekly activity reports located at the top of this page.

This is the modified MidBulkhead showing the area that the CSD will be retained.

I've begun indexing the new screw locations and will then have to drill and tap them before moving to the next task which is modify the existing motor casing.