Basic Information

Name

Z-6

Launch date:

20 December, 2014

Rocket description

63.5mm aluminum airframe

4 fins, birch plywood

aluminum conical nosecone

3 ft. ellipsoidal parachute

Payload

Raven altimeter

Mini camcorder (set to 640x380 resolution)

Liftoff mass

2.21 kg.

Flight objectives

- First higher-altitude flight with on-board camcorder

Motor details

Motor name

Impulser

Propellant

KNSB

Grain mass

247 grams

Nominal impulse

290 N-sec

Class

H

Weather conditions

Temperature

-2°C

Wind

SSE 15 km/hr

Sky

Overcast

Other

Light drizzle

Launch Event Description

Sled was used for the first time to transport the launch supplies. The sled worked very well and greatly eased the effort of getting to the launch site. Setup of Raven and camcorder went well. Shortly after “zero” count, rocket lifted off and rapidly rose skyward, veering somewhat into the wind. Disappeared from sight after burn out. About 10-15 seconds later, a ‘pop’ sound heard from primary ejection charge, then a few seconds later a second, more faint ‘pop’ from the backup charge. Rocket was not sighted coming down until the ‘pop’ sound from the main charge fired and the fully-blossomed chute was spotted. Rocket touched down not far from the launch pad. Upon examination of the rocket, it was noted that the motor had slid nearly all the way out of the rocket body. Rocket and payload were in great shape.

Flight Analysis

Event:

Time (sec)

feet

metres

Apogee

11.4

1940

591

Separation

12.3

1926

587

Main deployment

34.1

370

113

Touchdown

51.5

Range

152

46

Descent rates:

ft/sec.

m/sec.

Free-fall

77.1

23.5

Main parachute

17.5

5.3

Post-flight analysis and comments:

Examination of video footage indicated that motor dislodged during flight, not on landing.  Most likely this happened as a result of the apogee separation event. The clips retaining the motor were not sufficiently secure. Good on-board camcorder footage was obtained. Good footage of liftoff and (fortuitously) landing was taken by a tripod mounted camcorder set a short distance from the launch pad.