The Tacho Lycos team launched the complete full-scale rocket named “Ad Astra” last week as documented in the below video.

Ad Astra Full-Scale Test Launch

A quick run-down of the video can be described as:

0:40 Ignition of rocket motor (~2.4 second burn-time)

0:59 Apogee Achieved (later recorded as 5006ft) – at this point, the drogue parachute fails to deploy

1:13 Rocket achieves terminal velocity until drogue and main parachute charges activate simultaneously

1:27 Main parachute comes into view as it is deployed, but never unravels rendering it useless

1:33 Rocket crashes into ground at approximately 70mph (the rocket remains fairly intact)

In response to requests by NASA personnel, the rocket is being reconstructed and will be launched again on April 6th. The team is taking every precaution to ensure that such an accident involving 2 failed parachute deployments never occur again. As the Huntsville launch date quickly approaches, the team has been kept busy with final preparations for both the rocket and travel agendas. Following the submission of the FRR Report and a successful launch on Saturday, the team is still on track to attend the launch day events.

With the SLP Competition in Huntsville, Alabama just a few months away, the team is finalizing designs and preparing to construct the full scale rocket. Between the now and competition, a few key events will be taking place to ensure the team stays on track.

To complete the public outreach requirements, two outreach events are currently scheduled. The first will be at Davis Drive Middle School on February 15 and the second at Marbles Kids Museum on March 17. These events will help inform the student population about the space industry, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) professions, and rocket design.

Construction of the rocket airframe will begin in early February. Final testing of the payload’s design is being conducted as construction of its airframe begins. The payload’s autopilot software is currently being developed.

The team will continue to work hard and stay on schedule to fully prepare for the launch at the SLP Competition in April.

Recently, new group members of the Tacho Lycos team were split into two groups and each group was given the task of designing a unique payload ejection system. The first group came up with a clamshell design. This design centers around a hinge that would allow the nose cone to open during descent and eject the payload with the aid of a black powder charge. The second design utilizes a sabot. The sabot would consist of two foam half-cylinders that would surround the payload during flight. After ejection of the sabot by a black powder charge, the two foam halves would separate and release the payload.

Each team designed their model system and built prototypes for testing. The payload ejection tests for the two prototypes are below.

In accordance with the USLI competition rules, NCSU High Power Rocketry submitted its 2012 Preliminary Design Review (PDR) to NASA at 8AM Central Time on Monday, October 29. Each team participating in the 2012-13 Student Launch Program was required to submit a PDR to NASA by that time. Between November 7 and 16, teams will be giving formal PDR Presentations to a panel at NASA.

Team Tacho Lycos is excited that the initial design phase of the competition has come to a close. The team has already started working hard on the next phase: building and testing a subscale rocket to ensure safe and stable airframe design, as well as reliable integration of components.

The PDR documents can be viewed on the 2012-13 Documentation page.

After a few weeks and several redesigns, the 3-D printed model of our payload is almost complete! Using sophisticated machinery, a 3-D printer deposits a miniscule strip of plastic in geometric patterns to slowly build up the final shape. Evidence of this process can be seen in the gallery below. To create the final model, it had to be printed in two separate parts: the saucer-shaped base was printed first, then the cone-shaped top piece. The model will be assembled and prepped for aerodynamics testing to take place over the course of the next few weeks.

A big thanks goes out to Mr. Jason Low of the NCSU Industrial & Systems Engineering department for all of his help allowing us access to a 3-D printer and helping us create a cost-effective design!

Stay tuned for more updates!

We, the North Carolina State University High Powered Rocket Club (HPRC) have just received a notification from NASA that we have been accepted into this year’s USLI competition. This great news is currently being shared by several other high powered rocket teams across the country. In looking at all the competitors, competition this year will be stiff, but the NCSU HPRC is ready for any challenges that await; not only in our own personal design but the designs presented by all other teams. We wish all other competitors the best of luck in their endeavors over the course of these next seven months as they critique their designs and we anticipate a great launch day in Huntsville, Alabama on April 20, 2013.

With the submission of this year’s proposal to NASA on August 31, the 2012-2013 competition has begun. This year’s team is comprised of an elite officer team who are returning members from last year’s team. Recruitment and integration of new members has also begun in order to provide sustainability of the club for years to come.

This year’s rocket design is an original and unique design created with efficiency in mind. The airframe and payload were also designed at the same time to ensure integration is as easy as possible. The details of our design can be seen in greater detail in our loaded documents on the reports and documentation page.

This year’s team is excited to progress further into the competition and is patiently waiting for acceptance into the competition from NASA, which will come on September 27. Please continue to look for updates of upcoming events over the course of the next eight months. There will be several launches and outreach events in which community support is appreciated.

Famous author, Homer Hickam who wrote Rocket Boys, talks with Design and Optimization Lead, Garrett Abbott-Frey and Construction Lead, Clark Moser about the rocket “Prodigious”. He signed our Von Karmen nose cone, and complemented us on our rocket’s name selection. You are the man Homer!!

Below is a picture of construction lead, textile engineer Clark Moser, showing Kyrksen L.B. Plano-Faber, age 6 of Rockville Maryland, the characteristics of carbon fiber, and its properties.

Stay tuned for more pictures from this event!!

Team TachoLycos

From Left to Right Top Row: Audrey Timmel, Josef Khalil, Wesley Thill, Dustin D’Andrea, Garrett Abbott-Frey, Cameron Lowe, Charles, Clark Moser.
From Left to Right Bottom Row: Richard Chapmen, Rahul Subramanian, Brendan Carr.