We finished the rocket today, it was really flimsy so we decided to launch it without the accelerometer to make sure it was safe enough. After the launch we decided it was safe enough, but some of the wings had fallen off so we decided to fix up the fuselage and make sure we attached the wings better to make sure that nothing will happen to our accelerometer. It was a successful launch overall I guess, but we need to make sure the accelerometer works.
-Mike B.
Today we finished another rocket and we decided to launch it. However we wanted to launch it without the accelerometer so that we could see if the impact would be too strong when it landed. Since we aren't putting in a recovery system anymore, we had to see if it would be safe for the accelerometer. It seemed to be safe enough, although some fins fell off. We hope that we can get the accelerometer to work also.
-Christian
Today we finished to construction of one of our new rockets and decided to test it to make sure that the accelerometer would be secure inside. The test indicated that it would provided that we used sufficient padding, for which we will be using fiberglass insulation.
-Mike S.
We finished up making our new rocket and and went to test it without the accelerometer inside to see if this rocket design worked properly as to not damage our accelerometer. Also, we decided not to add a parachute this time. We discovered that all we needed to do was to add some padding to the accelerometer as the impact of the rocket was not too strong. Some of the fins fell off but this can be fixed easily if we apply the glue better.
-Kushal
We first finished the larger rocket today and went off for a test launch. We wanted to try a launch without the accelerometer to test if the new design worked. We could not risk losing that piece of equipment. We launched the rocket without a parachute since it did not go very high and the ejection won't work correctly with the accelerometer. We have decided on using padding inside the rocket to keep the accelerometer safe. We also made the piecewise function for the graph of the thrust for the A engines and will use that for the predictions.
-Scott
We launched the rocket today. We did not put the accelerometer in the rocket, we were just testing to see if the accelerometer would be able to survive the fall. The rocket went up and came down relatively softly. 2 of the wings fell off of the rocket, but that would easily be fixed. We decided that the rocket would be safe enough and began the repairs on the rocket.
-Ben W.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Rebel Rockets - Day 14
After receiving the accelerometer we realized how much larger we needed to make our rockets. In order to do this we needed something with a larger diameter to wrap the paper around. To do this Mike See used a piece of wood and a lathe and created a dowel with an inch and 3/4 diameter. We then constructed a fuselage using this dowel. It's not as sturdy as the other ones because it's a larger area, but hopefully it will hold. Also, we needed larger cones so we went to the hobby shop to look for larger ones, we got some, but they still aren't large enough so we have to find another way to attach them.
-Mike B.
Because we were unable to find any circular objects with a suitable diameter for our rocket I used a lathe to create a dowel of about 1 and 3/4 inches in diameter. Using the same technique as for our other rockets we then created a fuselage. The increased surface area caused a decrease in structural rigidity, but it is still acceptable for our purposes. We then went to the hobby shop to find larger cones. The cones that we bought were larger than those we were using previously but still not large enough for our current fuselage, so we will need to find some way to attach them securely.
-Mike S.
In order to fit the accelerometer into our rocket we had to find an object to model our fuselage after. Since we couldn't find one with the appropriate diameter, Mike See had to make a dowel with a lathe. We ended up making a fuselage with a large enough diameter to fit the accelerometer but it was not very sturdy. Later we went to the hobby shop to buy larger cones. We did find larger cones but they were not wide enough to properly fit them in the fuselage. Yet we can still find a way to secure them well.
-Kushal
The accelerometer is larger than we expected and this presented some problems. We needed to make wider fuselages to fit the accelerometer. We also needed something cylindrical to wrap the paper around. We decided we needed to lathe a dowel to a diameter of 1.75 in. Mike did that as others went to get larger cones. The cones were smaller than we needed and we will have to adjust to that. The fuselage that was made is very flimsy and may also present a problem.
-Scott
We obtained the accelerometer. We found that it was larger than we had originally anticipated. We had to make a larger rocket to fit it in. We could not find a larger dowel, so we had to create one out of a piece of wood. The larger fuselage causes the rocket to be weaker. This means that we may have trouble with the rocket falling apart. The new rocket is 1 and 3/4 inches high.
-Ben W.
-Mike B.
Because we were unable to find any circular objects with a suitable diameter for our rocket I used a lathe to create a dowel of about 1 and 3/4 inches in diameter. Using the same technique as for our other rockets we then created a fuselage. The increased surface area caused a decrease in structural rigidity, but it is still acceptable for our purposes. We then went to the hobby shop to find larger cones. The cones that we bought were larger than those we were using previously but still not large enough for our current fuselage, so we will need to find some way to attach them securely.
-Mike S.
In order to fit the accelerometer into our rocket we had to find an object to model our fuselage after. Since we couldn't find one with the appropriate diameter, Mike See had to make a dowel with a lathe. We ended up making a fuselage with a large enough diameter to fit the accelerometer but it was not very sturdy. Later we went to the hobby shop to buy larger cones. We did find larger cones but they were not wide enough to properly fit them in the fuselage. Yet we can still find a way to secure them well.
-Kushal
The accelerometer is larger than we expected and this presented some problems. We needed to make wider fuselages to fit the accelerometer. We also needed something cylindrical to wrap the paper around. We decided we needed to lathe a dowel to a diameter of 1.75 in. Mike did that as others went to get larger cones. The cones were smaller than we needed and we will have to adjust to that. The fuselage that was made is very flimsy and may also present a problem.
-Scott
We obtained the accelerometer. We found that it was larger than we had originally anticipated. We had to make a larger rocket to fit it in. We could not find a larger dowel, so we had to create one out of a piece of wood. The larger fuselage causes the rocket to be weaker. This means that we may have trouble with the rocket falling apart. The new rocket is 1 and 3/4 inches high.
-Ben W.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Rebel Rockets-Day 13
Today we went to the hobby shop to buy the A engines. After that, we quickly built another rocket with one of the A engines fitted into it to see how high it would go. It ended up going about 300 feet, which is much lower than the C engines we've been using , and much less exciting than the C engines. However, this is a good height because it would be harder to lose the rockets and we really need to start testing out the other variables. Also, we finally received the accelerometer. It will be difficult to figure out a way to mount them within the rocket.
-Christian
We got our new engines today, the A ones. We rushed a rocket to test the height and see how it would fit in our fuselages, it looked kind of strange because of the size difference, but it worked. We launched it and it went up a good amount still, but not even close to the C engines, so it was kind of lame in comparison, but we finally recovered a rocket. But, for doing our research, it probably is better since we need to test variables. Lastly, we got our accelerometer and hopefully can figure out a way to safely put it in the rocket and in such a way it will do its job.
-Mike B.
Today, we got the accelerometer, and the new engines. We quickly built a rocket with the engine and tested it. It went a reasonable height up and was easily obtained. I believe that these will work much better. The accellerometer is slightly larger than we anticipated, so we will have to create a larger fuselage for the rockets.
-Ben W.
Today we started by acquiring the new A3-4T engines at the hobby shop. They were smaller than we expected. We quickly built a rocket so we could test the new engines. The rockets went a much shorter height up compared to the C engines, but we were easily able to recover the rocket. This is important because we need to save the accelerometer for reuse. We later got the accelerometer and will need to figure out a way to fit it in our rockets. We also took our first steps to refiguring our calculations for the A engines.
-Scott
After buying the A3-4T engines we slapped together a rocket to determine whether or not they offered sufficient propulsion for the rocket. The rocket only went up a fraction of how high it had been previously, but we decided that due to the importance of being able to recover the accelerometer after every launch we would have to be satisfied with this. Later we met Tim and took the accelerometer from him. Due to its size we are going to need to significantly increase the diameter of our rockets.
-Mike S
We went to the hobby shop to buy some A3-4T rocket engines that are weaker than the C engines we were using. We need a smaller engine so we don't end up losing our rockets like the last few times. We created a rocket with the A3 rocket fitted and went to the school to launch it. It went up around 300 feet which is not as much as the C engine. This engine seems to be the right size even if it is not as impressive as the C. We also received our accelerometer today and hopefully we can get to testing our variables soon.
-Kushal
-Christian
We got our new engines today, the A ones. We rushed a rocket to test the height and see how it would fit in our fuselages, it looked kind of strange because of the size difference, but it worked. We launched it and it went up a good amount still, but not even close to the C engines, so it was kind of lame in comparison, but we finally recovered a rocket. But, for doing our research, it probably is better since we need to test variables. Lastly, we got our accelerometer and hopefully can figure out a way to safely put it in the rocket and in such a way it will do its job.
-Mike B.
Today, we got the accelerometer, and the new engines. We quickly built a rocket with the engine and tested it. It went a reasonable height up and was easily obtained. I believe that these will work much better. The accellerometer is slightly larger than we anticipated, so we will have to create a larger fuselage for the rockets.
-Ben W.
Today we started by acquiring the new A3-4T engines at the hobby shop. They were smaller than we expected. We quickly built a rocket so we could test the new engines. The rockets went a much shorter height up compared to the C engines, but we were easily able to recover the rocket. This is important because we need to save the accelerometer for reuse. We later got the accelerometer and will need to figure out a way to fit it in our rockets. We also took our first steps to refiguring our calculations for the A engines.
-Scott
After buying the A3-4T engines we slapped together a rocket to determine whether or not they offered sufficient propulsion for the rocket. The rocket only went up a fraction of how high it had been previously, but we decided that due to the importance of being able to recover the accelerometer after every launch we would have to be satisfied with this. Later we met Tim and took the accelerometer from him. Due to its size we are going to need to significantly increase the diameter of our rockets.
-Mike S
We went to the hobby shop to buy some A3-4T rocket engines that are weaker than the C engines we were using. We need a smaller engine so we don't end up losing our rockets like the last few times. We created a rocket with the A3 rocket fitted and went to the school to launch it. It went up around 300 feet which is not as much as the C engine. This engine seems to be the right size even if it is not as impressive as the C. We also received our accelerometer today and hopefully we can get to testing our variables soon.
-Kushal
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Rebel Rockets- Day 12
Today we had two failures, but it lead us to the solution to our problems. We had our first launch in the morning, this went so high we had absolutely no idea where it went, at all. So we decided to make our parachute smaller, that way it would fall faster and not be carried by the wind so much. We still lost this rocket, even though we were able to follow it to the ground, it went into the woods and was lost. Because of both these failures we decided we had to switch to a smaller engine. While this is pretty disappointing, we had initially thought the rocket wouldn't go so high with our chosen engine so we are actually closer to what we proposed by switching to an A engine rather than a C.
-Mike B.
Today, we launched more rockets. We tried to look for a different spot at the school to launch, and we did find a larger, wider area more suitable for launches. The first engine we tried to use was a dud, however, the second one worked. We ended up losing the rocket again cause the wind took it too far. So, after that we went back to construct another rocket. We launched this one with a smaller parachute, thinking the wind wouldn't take this one as far, but it did so we lost that one too. We decided at the end of the day that we would have to use smaller engines because we can't lose every single rocket that we launch, especially when the accelerometer is mounted in them. We decided to go with A engines, which are much weaker than the C engines we've been using. The A engines would be easiest to work with because they don't go as high up and it would be more difficult to lose them.
-Christian
Once again, we launched rockets. We used the new field and lost the rocket after it fired. We decided to change rocket engines. First, we decided to try out a smaller parachute, in hopes that the rocket would fall down more vertically. This did not happen, so we were forced to change to smaller rockets. This will make the rocket go less high, but hopefully, we will be able to find the rocket afterwords.
-Ben W.
We were able to launch a rocket early in the day. We rocket went so high in the air that we were unable to even see it come down. The parachute must have ejected and the rocket flew away. We decided to try another launch, but to use a smaller parachute so the rocket would fall faster and would not be as far off target. The rocket fired correctly and we were able to follow it's path, but it went into the woods. We now concluded that we need to use the A engines instead of the C engines so that the rocket will not go as high and we will be able to recover it.
-Scott
We went ot the school first thing in the morining and set up near the baseball field. This time the rocket went very high and we some how lost track of our rocket. We were on the fence about uses smaller engines but today proved that we should. So we went and made a smaller parachute so it will fall faster and not go off into the woods where we can't recover it. We initally thought that the C engine was not strong enough but we are thinking that the A engine is the way to go this time.
-Kushal
Even though we redesigned the parachute to fall more quickly and thus improve our chances of retrieving the rocket the C engine still propelled the rocket too high. Even with the smaller parachute the rocket still drifted off into the woods and we were unable to find it. We've decided that due to our time constraints we will move directly to an A engine to ensure that we no longer lose the rockets.
-Mike
-Mike B.
Today, we launched more rockets. We tried to look for a different spot at the school to launch, and we did find a larger, wider area more suitable for launches. The first engine we tried to use was a dud, however, the second one worked. We ended up losing the rocket again cause the wind took it too far. So, after that we went back to construct another rocket. We launched this one with a smaller parachute, thinking the wind wouldn't take this one as far, but it did so we lost that one too. We decided at the end of the day that we would have to use smaller engines because we can't lose every single rocket that we launch, especially when the accelerometer is mounted in them. We decided to go with A engines, which are much weaker than the C engines we've been using. The A engines would be easiest to work with because they don't go as high up and it would be more difficult to lose them.
-Christian
Once again, we launched rockets. We used the new field and lost the rocket after it fired. We decided to change rocket engines. First, we decided to try out a smaller parachute, in hopes that the rocket would fall down more vertically. This did not happen, so we were forced to change to smaller rockets. This will make the rocket go less high, but hopefully, we will be able to find the rocket afterwords.
-Ben W.
We were able to launch a rocket early in the day. We rocket went so high in the air that we were unable to even see it come down. The parachute must have ejected and the rocket flew away. We decided to try another launch, but to use a smaller parachute so the rocket would fall faster and would not be as far off target. The rocket fired correctly and we were able to follow it's path, but it went into the woods. We now concluded that we need to use the A engines instead of the C engines so that the rocket will not go as high and we will be able to recover it.
-Scott
We went ot the school first thing in the morining and set up near the baseball field. This time the rocket went very high and we some how lost track of our rocket. We were on the fence about uses smaller engines but today proved that we should. So we went and made a smaller parachute so it will fall faster and not go off into the woods where we can't recover it. We initally thought that the C engine was not strong enough but we are thinking that the A engine is the way to go this time.
-Kushal
Even though we redesigned the parachute to fall more quickly and thus improve our chances of retrieving the rocket the C engine still propelled the rocket too high. Even with the smaller parachute the rocket still drifted off into the woods and we were unable to find it. We've decided that due to our time constraints we will move directly to an A engine to ensure that we no longer lose the rockets.
-Mike
Monday, June 2, 2008
Rebel Rockets-Day 11
Today, yet again, we made another complete rocket. We decided to go launch it at the school, but at a different location. We found an area larger than the field we were using before. We drove around for a while around town to look for a larger field, and we did find one, however, it was pretty far away. We thought that it wouldn't be too smart to drive the half hour to the field daily, so we just decided to use a different part of the school. The launch today was pretty bad. There was something wrong with the way the rocket was attached to the launch pad, and the rocket did not even come off of the launch pad. It stayed on the ground and just flailed around. We were quite disappointed. After the launch, we tried to fix the launch pad, because it broke. Also, more construction was done afterwards on parachutes and fins.
-Christian
We decided to move our launch site, instead of using the cross country field we moved to the one on the practice football field. We think this is a better area and it was much better than driving to a large field a long ways away. The launch was messed up though, the rocket somehow stuck to the launchpad and then the rocket started spinning around all crazy-like. It was pretty annoying that something like that happened. We had to fix our launch pad using duct tape and did some more construction. Disappointing day.
-Mike B.
We found a new place to launch our rocket. We decided that we would use the area next to the baseball field because it was more open. If we used this area, we figured that we could find the rocket more easily. When we tried to launch the rocket, it stuck to the launch pad and spun out of control. The test was invalid. After this, we decided to fix the launch pad and call it a day.
-Ben W.
Today we drove to find a better field to launch the rockets. We found one, but it was farther away then we expected to find one. We decided not to use that field today, but it remains an option for the future. We then built another complete rocket. For the launch we decided to move to a different part of the high school. We attempted to launch the rocket, but it stuck to the launching pad and spun around on the ground. The launching pad was damaged, but not beyond repair and we were able to fix it with duck tape before moving on.
-Scott
We decided today that we were going to use a better field so we don't lose our rockets again. This time we used the area next to the baseball field because the other fields we found were too far away to always go there to test a rocket. We are getting the hang of building these rockets so it did not take to long to set up a rocket that was ready for a launch. Yet the rocket spun out when we ignited it and the launch pad broke. We think that the rocket stuck onto the launch pad because we applied the tape to strongly. We ended up having to fix the launch pad with some glue and a lot of duck tape.
-Kushal
-Christian
We decided to move our launch site, instead of using the cross country field we moved to the one on the practice football field. We think this is a better area and it was much better than driving to a large field a long ways away. The launch was messed up though, the rocket somehow stuck to the launchpad and then the rocket started spinning around all crazy-like. It was pretty annoying that something like that happened. We had to fix our launch pad using duct tape and did some more construction. Disappointing day.
-Mike B.
We found a new place to launch our rocket. We decided that we would use the area next to the baseball field because it was more open. If we used this area, we figured that we could find the rocket more easily. When we tried to launch the rocket, it stuck to the launch pad and spun out of control. The test was invalid. After this, we decided to fix the launch pad and call it a day.
-Ben W.
Today we drove to find a better field to launch the rockets. We found one, but it was farther away then we expected to find one. We decided not to use that field today, but it remains an option for the future. We then built another complete rocket. For the launch we decided to move to a different part of the high school. We attempted to launch the rocket, but it stuck to the launching pad and spun around on the ground. The launching pad was damaged, but not beyond repair and we were able to fix it with duck tape before moving on.
-Scott
We decided today that we were going to use a better field so we don't lose our rockets again. This time we used the area next to the baseball field because the other fields we found were too far away to always go there to test a rocket. We are getting the hang of building these rockets so it did not take to long to set up a rocket that was ready for a launch. Yet the rocket spun out when we ignited it and the launch pad broke. We think that the rocket stuck onto the launch pad because we applied the tape to strongly. We ended up having to fix the launch pad with some glue and a lot of duck tape.
-Kushal
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