The Soyuz TMA-21 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, carrying Expedition 27 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev, NASA Flight Engineer Ron Garan and Russian Flight Engineer Andrey Borisenko to the International Space Station. The Soyuz, which has been dubbed "Gagarin", is launching one week shy of the 50th anniversary of the launch of Yuri Gagarin from the same launch pad in Baikonur on April 12, 1961 to become the first human to fly in space.

Saturn 5 launch sequence VERY COOL

http://www.spacecraftfilms.com/
http://vimeo.com/4366695   This is the Saturn 5 liftoff
Please look at these films, Very cool

Rick McKee

MLAS Update

  Hi all,
 This is a update on the progress of Team ARC, for the past few months we have been busy with fairs, football,school and a host of other duties. This week I made allot of progress on the 8 inch boilerplate that we plan to test fly during the Spring blast weekend.  This is a small version of the half scale we are construction in the shop. (my neighbors love me )

For those of you who aren't familiar with this project let me fill you in. We are construction a half scale rocket of the NASA -MLAS. This was used back in 2007 to test the orientation of the chutes and other equipment.

  I have attached all the chute anchors and started with the 12inch version of this, we are doing it this way to get data on flight and timing events.  Timing is everything on this rocket.  Right now we plan for a OCTOBER 2012 launch. After that the rocket will be used as a teaching tool for Middle school kids on the importance of math and research. I hope to be able to travel with this and motivate kids, and pay it forward.

So many in the rocket community take their knowledge with them when the pass.  To me this is a selfish act
So back to the project.

This is a blurry picture but you get the idea.

here I used 24mm motor tubes for the chute compartment

Another picture of the CM this time it was hanging. 
I think it looks cool.

The 12 inch model will be using 29mm motor mounts. These are mounted in the 20 degree angle off center in a square design. This is the design  that the real rocket employed.  We are currently construction the cage for this boilerplate, This takes  allot of time the most important thing we are doing is keeping the 20 degree angle of attack the motors used in the original. We know this will affect the amount of power and other things. This is the reason we are building three boilerplate's. one for the data needed, and two to work out the construction issues ( their are also storage issues we must handle)

Centering rings with a Dremil

Hi.
  This is a lesson on how we use a Dremil to make any size centering rings for the rockets we build in the ARC shop.   Things you will need to do this are the following.

1. A ruler or a caliper( this is more accurate) Hardor Freight.
2. A construction calculator( I bought mine at Home Depot)
3. The material you want to cut ( make sure you use the right bit in the Drimel)
3. Dremil Multi tool With a Circle cutter attachment (you may have to go online to get one)
     We modified ours to cut larger rings, we also use this to produce rings for nosecones ( The big O )
     This was a 16in dia X 3ft nosecone.   We made from 1 inch Blue DuPont foam insulation
4. Eye, and ear protection. The Dremil makes a very loud pitchy noise when cutting.
   
  To start I measure the inside diameter of the tube that I'm going to use. Then I write down the I.D.(Inside diameter)  information. Them comes the math part.
Division,  divide the ID by two, that will give you your center. then make a mark on a scrap piece of paper , or something laying around.  

ex, 2.6 inch  2.6/2=1.3    Simple , I add 1/16th to the outside for a tight fit.
                                        For you metric peps that = 4.064 mm

THIS PART IS IMPORTANT.

  I use a 1/8 inch bit in my drill and make a hole at the center mark, Then I make another mark on the outside mark I made earlier.  This will be the Circle
  With the Dremil attached to the hole cutter, and the correct bit in, place Take the center point of the Dremil  place it in the center hole  you made earlier, now loosen the nut on the adjuster, place the bit in the outer hole. Tighten the adjuster nut.  Now look underneath to make sure the bit is slightly below the material you are using. REMEMBER YOUR  EYES You can always sand too fit,  you can't add material.

  Short cut , I make a template out of cardboard and wright the diameter on it
This way all I have to do is go into my file, grab the right one and adjust to what I need

   Always cut the outer circle first then the inner Motor Mount Tube,(MMT)  Again I have a template for the MM Ts
When cutting try to do it in one continuous motion, also keep the tool straight up. move slowly, this will keep the bit from getting too hot.I have smoked a few bits moving too fast.

Fit the completed piece it should be a little big, I'm sure some of you will get the exact fit the first time.

I like to use 1/8 plywood for the smaller rockets. I also use thick cardboard, I get some from the local school. They work great for centering rings or fins.
I have cut up to 1/2 plywood this way. Any thicker than that I will use my router table.

  Again please be careful with this tools have a mind of their own,  never take a power tool for granted.

Thanks and happy building

Rick "scratch " Mckee
Nar 87253 L3




 
 

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