Tufts SEDS Rocketry Team
Tufts SEDS Rocketry Team
LITTLE DIPPER - Team Altitude Record
LITTLE DIPPER - Team Altitude Record
Little Dipper is my fourth personal rocket project. Having built two L2 rockets, I decided I wanted to design an "over-engineered" L1 rocket and beat the Tufts Rocketry Team personal rocket (excluding CARM) altitude record using an H-impulse motor. Having recently been heavily involved in the manufacturing of the team rocket CARM, I wanted to apply my new skills to build a rocket out of high quality materials and construction techniques that my previous projects lacked.
Little Dipper is my fourth personal rocket project. Having built two L2 rockets, I decided I wanted to design an "over-engineered" L1 rocket and beat the Tufts Rocketry Team personal rocket (excluding CARM) altitude record using an H-impulse motor. Having recently been heavily involved in the manufacturing of the team rocket CARM, I wanted to apply my new skills to build a rocket out of high quality materials and construction techniques that my previous projects lacked.
I decided to employ a few techniques for this build, such as using an aluminum thrust plate inspired by CARM. Although the H-impulse motor class is far too weak to require such a heavy duty thrust plate, I wanted to gain more experience for future rockets where such a thrust plate might be required. Since I was constructing such a small vehicle, I wanted a method of tracking the high flying rocket. Since most trackers are expensive, I decided to conduct a test on the effectiveness of an air tag in tracking my rocket. To do this, I designed a custom two-part nosecone with a compartment for storing the air tag, connected by a carefully 3D printed thread. The body tube contained a small parachute for decreasing descent speeds.
I decided to employ a few techniques for this build, such as using an aluminum thrust plate inspired by CARM. Although the H-impulse motor class is far too weak to require such a heavy duty thrust plate, I wanted to gain more experience for future rockets where such a thrust plate might be required. Since I was constructing such a small vehicle, I wanted a method of tracking the high flying rocket. Since most trackers are expensive, I decided to conduct a test on the effectiveness of an air tag in tracking my rocket. To do this, I designed a custom two-part nosecone with a compartment for storing the air tag, connected by a carefully 3D printed thread. The body tube contained a small parachute for decreasing descent speeds.
Unlike my previous personal rockets, I decided to construct my fins out of 1/8" thick fiberglass, due to its stiffness. This would allow my rocket to fly at extreme speeds without risking fin flutter. A fiberglass motor retention ring was also water jet.
Unlike my previous personal rockets, I decided to construct my fins out of 1/8" thick fiberglass, due to its stiffness. This would allow my rocket to fly at extreme speeds without risking fin flutter. A fiberglass motor retention ring was also water jet.
After construction, the rocket was painted a dark brown, paying homage to Ursa Minor. Stars and planets were added for detail and the names of our club founders were inscribed onto the fins.
After construction, the rocket was painted a dark brown, paying homage to Ursa Minor. Stars and planets were added for detail and the names of our club founders were inscribed onto the fins.
I had the opportunity to launch Little Dipper in St. Albans, VT in November. The moment the motor was ignited Little Dipper shot into the sky incredibly fast. Near apogee I lost sight of the little rocket and wasn't able to track it on its descent. Upon checking the air tag, I discovered that the tracker had lost connection due to a lack of nearby iPhones. I ended up searching the fields for a two hours, with no luck in finding my rocket. Miraculously, a launch site local who was helping me look managed to spot my rocket while I was out searching. He returned my rocket to the launch site and I was thankfully able to recover it. The fins and body sustained no damage upon landing and the air tag payload was still safely secured within the nosecone. Checking the altimeter, I discovered that my rocket had reached an apogee of 4406 ft and a maximum velocity just over Mach 0.8. This apogee shattered the previous altitude record by over 800 ft, setting a new club record.
I had the opportunity to launch Little Dipper in St. Albans, VT in November. The moment the motor was ignited Little Dipper shot into the sky incredibly fast. Near apogee I lost sight of the little rocket and wasn't able to track it on its descent. Upon checking the air tag, I discovered that the tracker had lost connection due to a lack of nearby iPhones. I ended up searching the fields for a two hours, with no luck in finding my rocket. Miraculously, a launch site local who was helping me look managed to spot my rocket while I was out searching. He returned my rocket to the launch site and I was thankfully able to recover it. The fins and body sustained no damage upon landing and the air tag payload was still safely secured within the nosecone. Checking the altimeter, I discovered that my rocket had reached an apogee of 4406 ft and a maximum velocity just over Mach 0.8. This apogee shattered the previous altitude record by over 800 ft, setting a new club record.
