We have published our PLR for the 2017-18 NASA Student Launch Initiative! This is the last report for this year’s competition. The report is available on the NSL 2017-18 page, located here: http://www.usfsoar.com/projects/nsl-2017-2018/.
No comments
Category Archives: NSL 2017 – 2018
NSL Full Scale Flight 3
Over this past weekend our NASA Student Launch Team launched Apis II for the third and last time before competition day in a few weeks. With an apogee of 5,278 feet we came within less than 10 feet within our goal of 1 mile! The flight was an overall success with no recovery or flight issues. All that’s left to do now is paint the rocket, and wait for competition day!
-
- Loading the payload
-
- The team with Apis II
-
- Loading Apis II onto the launch rail
-
- The team heading out to recover the rocket
-
- The Nosecone and Rover section were recovered safely!
-
- The Booster Section was recovered safely!
Here is a slow-motion video of the flight in all its glory:
NSL Flight Readiness Review
NSL Full Scale Flight #2
On February 17th 2018 we had our second full scale flight for APIS 2. She launched to 5415 feet and had a minor technical difficulty upon landing. We recovered the Booster Section easily but had to go searching in a small pond for the Nosecone and Rover compartment. Luckily all was found and with minimal damage. We will be launching again in March so be on the lookout for updates!
Here is a link to watch the launch: https://youtu.be/zpMDvkNa-IgHey
Special thanks to Roger Cox Photography for all the great photos from the launch!
-
- Main Altimeter Bay landed safely
-
- Booster Section
-
- Prepping the motor
-
- Assembling the motor
-
- Marking CP and CG
-
- Assembling the motor
-
- Our mentor Jim West helping us get APIS 2 ready for flight
-
- What we searched through to find the nosecone and rover compartment!
NSL Full Scale Flight #1
We had a great time in Bunnell Florida at our first Full Scale launch for NSL yesterday! We had a successful launch, reaching 5574 feet and an interesting recovery when our Nosecone and Payload Section landed in the power lines and our Booster Section landed about a mile away. We have lots of work to do in order to get ready for launch #2 in February. A special thanks to FPL, Florida Power & Lights, for getting our rocket down safely from the power lines!
-
- Turning on the altimeters before leaving the launch pad.
-
- Our mentor Jim guiding us when assembling the rocket.
-
- Checking items off the safety checklist as we go along.
-
- After a long day we are finally ready to launch!
-
- Carrying the rocket to the launch pad.
-
- Loading the motor into the rocket.
-
- Prepping the motor.
-
- Inspecting the parachutes before we fold them and place them inside the rocket!
NSL Full Scale Ground Test
Earlier this afternoon our mentor Jim along with some of our members traveled to Plant City in order to conduct our Ground Test before our launch tomorrow. We conducted three static ejection tests including: Drogue, Main Parachute, and Nosecone Parachute. All three tests were a success and allow us to move on to our full scale launch tomorrow!
-
- Loading the Booster Section with the parachute for the ejection test.
-
- Prepping the Booster Section to be loaded before testing.
-
- A successful ejection test of the Nosecone and parachute from the Payload Compartment.
-
- Moving on to the next section!
-
- A look right after the charges set off and the separation is made.
-
- Attaching the Nosecone to the Payload Compartment.
-
- Our mentor Jim helping Ian and Jackson setup for testing.
-
- Setting up the Nosecone and Payload Compartment for ejection testing.
USF SOAR Critical Design Review
NSL Build Day 1/7/18
Members of our team spent a chilly Sunday morning building their full scale rocket for the NASA Student Launch. The team is now one build day closer to finishing up their rocket before its launch in the upcoming weeks. Check back next week for another update on the construction of the rocket!
-
- Carefully cutting fiberglass, safety first!
-
- Waiting for the motor mount to dry.
-
- Evenly spreading out the epoxy.
-
- Team members discussing the design aspects.
Sub-Scale Launch Day
On Saturday, December 16th, 2017, members of our NASA Student Launch Team successfully launched their new sub-scale rocket for the first time! The sub-scale rocket launched, separated, and landed safely, but the team did come across a couple issues. Despite having some tangled shock cord and one failed parachute the rocket did reach approximately 3,131 feet. With the sub-scale launch completed the team now has some great insight on what needs to be worked on for the upcoming full scale build days!
-
- Carrying the rocket to the launch pad.
-
- The team is sliding the rocket onto the rail.
-
- We are ready to launch!
-
- Some of our NSL team members.
Sub-Scale Build Day
Members of the NASA Student Launch Team spent Sunday afternoon with mentor Jim West building the sub-scale rocket in preparation for this Saturday’s test launch.