[dms-discuss] Successful air rocket launches

[timf]

November 9, 2014

Hey rocketeers --

It was a gorgeous early afternoon at Slide Hill Park. Jordan and 
Madeline came with Jordan's launcher, I brought James' launcher and our 
prototype PEARL launcher, and Emily and Nicholas pedaled to the park to 
help out. Weather conditions were perfect for testing paper air rocket 
launchers, and several passers-by stopped and joined in.

We spent an hour having fun testing the launchers and rockets. These 
launchers are awesome! They can launch an air rocket straight up about 
ten stories, or across the width of the field when angled. That range 
was attained with air pressure from a bike pump; only 45 PSI was needed 
(and more pressure was counterproductive... sorry about exploding one of 
your rockets with 80 PSI, Jordan!).

Nicholas was our RSO (Range Safety Officer), Madeline and Solomon (a 
passerby with his grandfather Dave) counted down the launches and 
retrieved the rockets from way across the field, and everybody got 
chances to hit the fire button.

James' launcher DNQ'd (Did Not Qualify) due to a leaky valve. The PEARL 
launcher seemed to work as well as Jordan's original MAKE-style 
launcher; that was good news.

We tested different rocket designs, launch angles, air pressures, and 
launcher battery voltages. Jordan suggested that the PEARL's launch 
angle should be adjustable; I'll think about simple ways to do that.

Dave was ready to sign up for a workshop to build a launcher, so our 
next step will be to figure out the parts cost. Then we'll plan the 
first workshop.

Thanks to everybody who attended.

Exciting times! I'll keep you posted.

-- Tim F