Test Session

The second day of testing was October 8, 2017. This was again done in the blast chamber. Maddie J, Joey, Jakob, and Valeria showed up to do these tests. This time, we tested the Tender Descenders under load. To accomplish this, a length of paracord was looped around the metal brackets on the roof of the blast chamber. A quick link was attached to this. The Tender Descender was then attached to the quick link, and then two of the Rocket Team Standard Sandbags (each allegedly 25 pounds) were hooked to the bottom. The Tender Descender was approximately at eye level.

Upon setting up for the tests, we found that our scale for the black powder was not being accurate. The reading was changing and displaying impossible values. We therefore made the decision to measure volumetrically. This is the vial, with markings for the amounts of powder used:

Our first test was done with powder up to A, which produced an explosion that seemed much louder than it should have been. Therefore all subsequent tests were done with the amount labeled B. The mark at A was at the "0.5" marking pre-made on the plastic, which is presumably milliliters. When a better scale is obtained, we ought to re-check what these volumes are and back-measure the mass of powder.

After test 1, we had mild difficulty finding the Tender Descender in the blast chamber (since we had not thought to attach it to either side of the suspended system). This taught us to add "pass the string through one quick link to keep the expended Tender Descender retained". Test 2, with B amount of powder, seemed to work perfectly. We wanted to try again to verify a second time, and had a surprising result.

For Test 3, we again used volume B of black powder. We then hooked up the system, and attempted to fire the FireBolt. Nothing happened. After waiting the standard 1 minute after a failed pyrotechnic, we entered the room and found that one of the E-match's wires was broken, and that both were discolored. We deduced that the wires had been crossed (shorted), and therefore the power had not flown to the E-match head. Upon reviewing the footage, we indeed saw a bright light where the wires connected, confirming this hypothesis. After un-shorting the wires and reattaching everything, we had a successful firing, at which point we decided sufficient data had been gathered.