Reference / Paper · 2014
Peak of Flight #373: What I got from Attending the World Space Modeling Championships
Apogee Components' Peak of Flight newsletter, issue 373 (2014-09-09).
- peak-of-flight
- apogee-components
- model-rocketry
Reference / Paper · 2014
Apogee Components' Peak of Flight newsletter, issue 373 (2014-09-09).
Apogee Components' Peak of Flight newsletter, issue 373 (2014-09-09).
In This Issue What I Got Out of Attending The World Space Modeling Championships Cover Photo: The beautiful launch field at the World Space Modeling Championships in Kaspichan, Bulgaria. Apogee Components, Inc. — Your Source For Rocket Supplies That Will Take You To The “Peak-of-Flight” 3355 Fillmore Ridge Heights Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907-9024 USA www.ApogeeRockets.com e-mail: [email protected] Phone: 719-535-9335 Fax: 719-534-9050 ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 What I Got Out of Attending The World Space Modeling Championships By Tim Van Milligan I was going to write an article about the cool technology that I saw in Bulgaria a couple of weeks ago at the World Space Modeling Championships (WSMC). You saw some of it in the video on our web site at: www.ApogeeRockets. com/Advanced_Construction_videos/Rocketry_Video_154. But there was so much of it, that I decided that one article just couldn’t do it the justice it deserves. So I’ll probably dribble it out in several articles specific to a particular topic. In this article, I thought I’d explain why I went to the World Space Modeling Championships as a supporter of Team USA, and what I got from the experience. That is a To save precious seconds, prepping of the models is accomplished right next to the launch pad. challenges of traveling and operating with you overseas in a high-pressure task as I do for the personal skill challenge that FAI flying offers.” In a lot of ways, I agree with this comment. But to be honest, since I’m more introverted than other team members, it was a very physically demanding adven- Members of Team USA at the opening ceromony. little bit more complicated, because it gets to the heart of why I’m in the model rocketry business, and why I even fly rockets at all. I should mention that I wasn’t a contestant on the trip. My two daughters were on the Juniors team, so I attended as their chaperone. Officially, I was labeled as a team supporter. The duties of a supporter are to help others with rocket recovery. But since I have a little bit of expertise in rocketry, I also assisted with repairing damaged models. I was reading a message this morning from a team member, who was explaining what he gets out of competition rocketry. He wrote: “I do this type of flying as much for the camaraderie of being part of this team and sharing the About this Newsletter Continued on page 3 Newsletter Staff You can subscribe to receive this e-zine FREE at the Apogee Components web site (www.ApogeeRockets.com), or by sending an e-mail to: [email protected] with “SUBSCRIBE” as the subject line of the message. Page 2 Concentration and a second pair of eyes from a teammate help during the intense competition. ISSUE 373 Writer: Tim Van Milligan Layout / Cover Artist: Tim Van Milligan Proofreader: Erin Card SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 Continued from page 2 World Space Modeling Championship head straight. So being around so many other people for long periods of time took a lot out of me. We were out on the range from sun-up to well after sun-down. Because of this, there was never enough quiet time for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I like rocket people, because I especially love to talk shop (rockets). And the people on the US team are on the cutting edge of rocketry and have a lot of information to share. While it wasn’t the best part of the trip, it was a fantastic aspect of it. I enjoy just sitting and watching people prepping their rockets, either in the hotel room or on the field. You can glean lots of little tidbits of in- A young contestant from the Czech Republic waits his turn in the rocket check-in line. ture. The reason is that one aspect of introversion is about “energy.” Extroverts are energized by being around others. Introverts, like me, like some quiet time to get recharged. Just like Superman, I need a fortress of solitude to get my Waiting for the gyrocopter to come down, but hoping it hangs in the air just a little longer. formation from them. For instance, you learn a lot about the team members and the challenges that they are working on. Most of the time, they are working on solving rocketry issues that I wasn’t aware of yet. Additionally, what makes competition rocketry unique is overcoming challenges that pop up during the event. InterThe chow line is where everyone got a chance to mingle and have lunch together. Continued on page 4 • Soft, flexible foam padding provides superior protection from cracking • Conforms to the egg to eliminate pressure points • TARC style for two eggs available • Lightweight & reusable Made by: ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 www.ApogeeRockets.com Egg-Payload Protectors Page 3 Continued from page 3 World Space Modeling Championship launch. As soon as the rocket cleared the launch rod, the wind threw it on its back. This didn’t just happen to her model. It was rare to see a flight that day that didn’t get pushed around by the wind. The wreckage on the field was devastating. But the team members picked up the pieces, and six guys pitched in to help her repair the rocket for a second flight. And it was a very complicated repair project. Not only did the model have to be reassembled, but major engineering changes had to be made internally. The rocket used The day after winning two Gold medals, Antonio Mazzaracchio of Italy takes a rest in his tent. Antonio is a one-man team, so he chases his own duration models. By lunch time, his GPS tracker confirmed that he had already run over 20 kilometers. national competition is even more intense, because you’re so far away from your home base. You have to become “MacGyver” and use the few resources you have at your disposal to pull off a miracle. For example, on the day of the scale model flights, my daughter’s Saturn 1B went unstable and crashed pretty hard. The reason the rocket went unstable was that the winds were pushing 15-20 mph on the morning of the Long days were common at the contest. The medals were often awarded by car headlights. Continued on page 5 • Designed to ignite the top motor in two-stage rockets. • Provides an easy way to stage composite propellant motors • Fires off igniters after a preprogrammed amount of time following liftoff • G-switch senses liftoff and insures against a false launchdetection • Small, lightweight design is great for skinny rockets • Easy-to-use, and will fire off any igniter, including clusters! www.ApogeeRockets.com Battery, battery connector, mounting board and igniter are not incuded. Page 4 ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 www.ApogeeRockets.com Staging Electronics Continued from page 4 World Space Modeling Championship Allison Van Milligan holds her Saturn 1B. rear ejection on the first stage, and all the shock cords (which were anchored deep in the bowels of the rocket) got yanked out. It would have been impossible to reattach them without tearing apart the rocket completely. So putting our minds together, we had to find an alternate way of attaching them. But we needed more Kevlar® shock cord, and you can’t get that in the middle of a field in Bulgaria. So the call went out in the tent for more shock cord. And sure enough, some other flyer had some available. That was the really neat thing about being on a team. Everyone is willing to share the resources they had with them. I can say that there is even sharing between countries. I All eight engines are burning, but the wind catches it just as it clears the launch rod. had to borrow a soldering iron to repair a launch system, and the only one on the field was in the tent of the Bulgarians. And they were very willing to help out. The repair to the Saturn 1B involved routing a harness of four shocks cord through the engine mount of the central motors. It wasn’t pretty, and if there was a different way to Continued on page 6 Pratt Hobbies GO BOX Launch Controller Launch controller for mid-power rockets. Hooks right up to your car’s battery. No more dead AA batteries! Plenty of electricity to set off any type of rocket motor igniter. 24 foot cord, allows you to stand far back for launch safety. Audible continuity buzzer lets you know the circuit is armed and ready for launch. Flat-jaw alligator clips Brought to you by: (for easy hook-up of igniter.) www.ApogeeRockets.com/Launch_Accessories/Launch_ Controllers/Go_Box_Launch_Controller ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 Page 5 Continued from page 5 World Space Modeling Championship Allison was all smiles after the rocket was repaired. Here you can see the silver tape on the top of the rocket to hold it back together. do it, I probably would have recommended it. But there wasn’t time to do it “the best way.” There was only time to get something workable. No, she didn’t win... They’re just celebrating a successful launch and recovery after an initial failure. and to experience everything working as they hoped, was a major accomplishment. The launch of the rocket after the repairs was successful. All eight motors in the first stage lit, and it took off straight, even in the howling winds. Two seconds later, the second stage fired as the booster dropped away under parachute. When the final parachute came out a few seconds later, a loud cheer went up from the entire team, and my daughter was surrounded and hugged by her teammates. The rocket didn’t win a medal. But it was a successful flight, and that is what mattered to the team. Why? Because they all had invested in the rocket during the repairs, I have a hunch that you’ll probably agree with this next statement. We don’t really recall the flights that worked like a charm. The ones we remember and are most fond of are those that required extra effort to eek out a “qualified” flight. The icing on the cake is when we get other people involved in overcoming the obstacle, and we share the experience. We now have a story that is tied to people around us. That gets me to why I love this hobby, and why I’m in business here at Apogee. The thing about rocketry is that it comes with built-in challenges. Rocketry is complex. After Continued on page 7 • Big Kits with Classic Styling and Bold Graphics • All Rockets Feature Laser-Cut Plywood Fins and Rings • Easy-to-Build. Durable. Exciting, and a Real Joy to Fly! Page 6 ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 www.ApogeeRockets.com Mid & High Power Rocket Kits! Everything Rocketry North Coast Rocketry Continued from page 6 World Space Modeling Championship all, it is “rocket science.” And I enjoy the thrill you experience when overcoming a technical challenge. That proves mastery over our surroundings, which is a core drive of scientific exploration (see Peak-of-Flight Newsletter 85 at www.ApogeeRockets.com/Education/Downloads/Newsletter85.pdf). Most of the time, the challenges we’re trying to overcome are those of “consistency.” We’re constantly fighting against Murphy’s law. Things that can possibly go wrong – do. It doesn’t matter if it is a competition flight, or a Level 1 high-power certification launch. We’re not competing against other people, we’re being challenged by the physical laws of nature. Overcoming our own shortcomings and getting another successful flight is what the excitement of rocketry is all about. In a sense, each successful launch is a measuring stick; it lets us gauge our own growth. But if it wasn’t for the challenges, there would be no marks on the ruler, and hence no way to tell if we’re actually progressing. Everyone in rocketry has their own war stories, as we’ve all fought against the laws of gravity and aerodynamics. Sharing the solutions to those challenges is what brings us together. That is the reason I put out this newsletter. Continued on page 8 A beautiful scale model of a Russian Proton rocket gathers a lot of attention. • Won’t Shatter Like Brittle Phenolic Tubes! • Super Smooth Surface With Tight Spirals • Standard LOC Diameters Up To 6 inches • Cut and Slot With Standard Tools • No Fiberglass Wrap Needed • Sands and Paints Easily • Cheaper than Fiberglass Blue Tube From Always Ready Rocketry www.ApogeeRockets.com High Power Tubes & Couplers www.ApogeeRockets.com/Building_Supplies/Body_Tubes/Blue_Tubes ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 Page 7 Continued from page 7 World Space Modeling Championship does open up doors to a stellar future. Why? Because the average non-rocketry person is very impressed by those students that participate in rocketry. And that is something I’m betting on as their father. If my kids are involved in rocketry, I anticipate that they will get preferential treatment in school. So far, this has been the case. And when the time comes for some college admissions bureaucrat to decide wether or not my kids are selected for a scholarship, I’m counting on the deciding factor to be “participation in rocketry.” The American and Russian teams had a blast together after the contest was all over. By encouraging my kids to get on Team USA, I believe that I’m giving them a leg-up for their future. Whether they win the competition isn’t important. And I don’t push them to win; just to do the work and to do their best. Because in the end, just being a participant in rocketry is really enough to sway non-rocketry bureaucrats. After all, how many other From my perspective, it documents the solutions to the common problems we’ve all faced in rocketry. I constantly refer modelers back to the archives, because there is a lot of valuable information there. Obviously, I don’t write all the articles in this newsletter myself. I seek out others that have come up with neat ideas that I can disseminate to 22,000+ readers of this newsletter. And if you have a new technique you’d like to share, please feel free to write me about it. I’m always on the lookout for articles for this newsletter. But I feel especially lucky that I get to be the middle man in the transfer of solutions. Another Reason I Attended the World Space Modeling Championships Since I’m being honest about my reasons for attending the WSMC, I’ll tell you my selfish reason. It is about being a father, and wanting a great future for my kids. The unique thing about model rocketry is that it really The flip-out fins used on Allison’s Saturn 1B rocket. They were based on the fins in Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #313 (www.ApogeeRockets.com/Education/Downloads/Newsletter313.pdf) Continued on page 9 Think of the convenience of getting everything to professionally install your dual-deployment or other electronic payload into a e-bay of your rocket! Includes: nylon standoffs, screws & nuts, wire, push-switch, drill & tap, ejection charge cannisters, barrier strips, wire ties, and step-bystep DVD instructions. www.apogeerockets.com Page 8 ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 www.ApogeeRockets.com Electronics Hardware Installation Kit Continued from page 8 World Space Modeling Championship kids can say they built and launched -- in Bulgaria -- a 1/70th scale replica of a Saturn 1B rocket that had 10 engines in it (8 engines in the first stage, and one in each of the second and third stages)? Heck... even I’m impressed by a kid that does that. In conclusion, let me say that attending the World Space Modeling Championship was a unique experience. While it was physically demanding, it generated so many good memories that I’ll never forget it. I can see why so many of the team members look forward to the next trip. If you are interested in competing or having your kids participate, a good place to start learning about international competition is at the NAR’s web site: http://www.nar.org/ contest-flying/fai-spacemodeling/. The try-outs, where the next team will be selected, will be held next summer at NARAM-57 in Arizona. About The Author: Tim Van Milligan (a.k.a. “Mr. Rocket”) is a real rocket scientist who likes helping out other rocketeers. Before he started writing articles and books about rocketry, he worked on the Delta II rocket that launched satellites into orbit. He has a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and has worked toward a M.S. in Space Technology from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Currently, he is the owner of Apogee Components (http://www.apogeerockets.com) and the curator of the rocketry education web site: http://www. apogeerockets. com/education/. He is also the author of the books: “Model Rocket Bill Stine and Ellis Langford run Design and from the launch of a nearby rocket. Construction,” “69 Simple Science Fair Projects with Model Rockets: Aeronautics” and publisher of a FREE e-zine newsletter about model rockets. Roam In Our Forest of Over 190 Different Types • Unique and exotic kits from over 20 different manufacturers • Skill Levels range from “easy” to “fiendish” • Sizes from 1/4A motor to level-2-high-power • We build & fly them to find out what they’re like, saving you grief • More new ones arriving all the time • Educational bulk packs available too www.ApogeeRockets.com Looking For A Fun Rocket Kit? Continued on page 10 www.ApogeeRockets.com/Rockets_By_Manufacturers ISSUE 373 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 Page 9