As a part of the AAE 439 class, students participate in a Rocket Launch Competition. The competition involves groups of 5-7 students who build, analyze and launch a solid-propellant based rocket. Thrust and drag measurements are made to facilitate 2-D trajectory predictions by each group. On launch day, each group is asked to orient the launch rod (into the wind) such that under parachute recovery, the rocket lands at the launch site. Wind speed and rocket altitudes (at parachute deployment) are measured to support the launches and predictions.
A static firing of a small solid rocket motor. The thrust history is recorded and is used in the computational model developed by the students to predict the rocket's trajectory. |
Fall, 1993 Rocket team Blue makes pre-launch adjustments. (L-R: Carolyn Mattick, Ian Murray, Mike Schlabach, Derek Pecson, Gordon Emore, Dan Vonderwell (T.A.), Aaron) |
Up, Up, and Away! Rocket Blue soars off the launch pad. |
Stephen D. Heister -- heister@roger.ecn.purdue.edu