Responsible Engineers: Owen M, Kevin G, Jenna B, Juan A, Nicole C, Max, Sam H, Amanda M

Hermes III Deployment: https://wikis.mit.edu/confluence/display/RocketTeam/HADES

Phoenix Deployment: Hardware

Research into other medthods: Nitrocellulose, Separation Events, https://wikis.mit.edu/confluence/download/attachments/120175068/Jim_Jarvis_Highaltitude_deployment_2013.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1491853101000&api=v2, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-FvnbYQmETId8Ko6nY0LdCxwcloM4aGdy2pHURnmPTc/edit 

CoDR Presentation:Deployment - CoDR Presentation.pdf

Meeting Goals:

Week 1: initial research

Week 2: cost analysis, pick deployment system, have rough sketch with dimensions (calculate amount of co2/black powder necessary), research testing procedures

Week 3: have idea of all components necessary, start on CAD

• Maybe try and get in contact with SPL to do a piston test in the vacuum chamber sometime in the next two weeks?

• Or figure out a way to use the mini vacuum chamber in lab

Piston

• Used on Phoenix, Staging Demo and HADES

• Piston failure experienced on Staging Demo II (resulted in sustainer destruction)

• Pressure sealed so can be used at high-altitudes

• Although risk of no pressure seal on the firebolts (mitigated using hydrostatic testing)

• Overall black powder is less reliable at higher altitudes (lower pressure slows down combustion propagation)

• Test hot glue instead of epoxy as a sealing method for the firebolts

• Takes up 8 inches in length of mpt

• Can be reused

• Look into & test shorter pistons?

• Piston chosen: 
  

  6498K181

• More info on different types of pistons: https://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/fluid_power_components/pneumatic_equipment_components/air_cylinders 

• BP calculator: https://rocketrycalculator.com/rocketry-calculator/bp-estimator/ 

• Initial Testing for Piston at low pressure

  • 3/15/23 Vacuum Chamber Piston Test with Shear Pins
    

  • 2/28 Vacuum Chamber Piston Test

Layout

• Shear Pins

• Phoenix had 3 on sustainer nose cone and 4 on booster

• Medusa needs more shear pins on secondary deployment to ensure there is no early deployment

• Swivels

• Options:

• 1500lb ASP Rocketry https://www.asp-rocketry.com/ecommerce/Barrel-Swivel-1-500-Lb-Test.cfm?item_id=159&parent=51&navPanel= 

• 6000 lb from fruity chutes. Supports rockets up to 400lbs https://shop.fruitychutes.com/collections/recovery-and-launch-hardware/products/6000-lb-stainless-steel-swivel 

• Weight

• Sustainer: 15.8 dry, 35 wet. Total: 50.8lbs

• Booster: 103lb dry, 

Reasons for not using dual stage dual deploy

The proportions of Medusa were not aligned with using a dual stage dual deploy system as well as the risk of coning during launch

Firebolts

• The method used for Phoenix for integrating the black powder charges with the firebolts into the pistons worked but was frustrating
• The teflon tape used to contain the black powder was liable to tear when screwed into the fittings at the bottom of the piston
• Firebolts wiki page

CO2 Canisters 

Researched, but decided to stay with piston system

• Good for use at high-altitudes (20k ft+) b/c completely pressure sealed

Takes up approximately 5 inches in length of mpt

USCRPL Recovery Presentation https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-FvnbYQmETId8Ko6nY0LdCxwcloM4aGdy2pHURnmPTc/edit 

https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3029&context=honors_research_projects 

• This is an article someone wrote about how they designed/built/tested a CO2 deployment mechanism using a solenoid

• CO2 has lower pressure impulse than black powder

• Discusses difficulties with sealing

• Also gives approximate calculations for how to find co2 canister size

• fruity chutes info: https://fruitychutes.com/files/blog/Rocketry%20Recovery%20Technology.ppt

COTS CO2 Canisters:

• https://www.apogeerockets.com/downloads/PDFs/CD3_Manual2009.pdf

• https://www.tinderrocketry.com/rocketry-co2-ejection-system (instruction manual gives bp to co2 conversion)

RAPTOR Tinder Rocketry

• https://www.tinderrocketry.com/raptor-co2-ejection 

• $145

• Tested in -25 F and Vacuum tested simulating 100000’

• COTS CO2 Canisters:

• https://www.apogeerockets.com/downloads/PDFs/CD3_Manual2009.pdf

• https://www.tinderrocketry.com/rocketry-co2-ejection-system (instruction manual gives bp to co2 conversion)

Preliminary Design

CO2 canister sizing

• Chute packing volumes

• main chutes

  • sustainer main: 4.3 oz 48 inches, 26 in^3 packing volume

  • booster main: 16.3 oz 96 inches, 90.5 in^3 packing volume

• drogue chutes (estimates)

  • sustainer drogue: 1.7 oz 18 in diameter, 9.67 in^3 packing volume

  • booster drogue: 4.5 oz 36 in diameter, 21.2 in^3 packing volume

• Multiply the black powder charge size (grams) by 5.0 to determine the amount of CO2 (also in grams) required to achieve the same compartment pressure.

• If using this method we need to remember the compartment for Phoenix (that we used 0.2g for) is the inside of the piston, not the recovery compartment

Canister Size

• 12g CO2 Canisters 

Other Research

• Pyrotechnic cable cutter

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dixI8KeGacc 

• Misc Links

• http://www.uscrpl.com/traveler-iv 

• http://media.wix.com/ugd//b73de9_5073f5498c5742f5e23ac0728a139904.pdf