Problem Statement

Our project entails the building of a high powered rocket as a means of a reusable test platform for the development of experimental motors. These experimental motors will be researched, mixed, and tested as the means of thrust for the rocket. The project team will work through the development of a stable, safe rocket with sensors to allow for data collection during test flights of the experimental motors. Stability calculations for the rocket including the location of the center of gravity, and center of pressure will be done. The total energy available in the propellant will be calculated as well as the theoretical thrust value available from the propellant. The rocket and experimental motors will be validated by one or more test flights to take place later in the semester. The rocket must be safely retrieved after the flight and be able to be relaunched with a new motor. The data collected from the flights will then be processed to generate thrust curves of the experimental motors. The rocket can also be used to generate thrust curves of the off the shelf motors as another means of validation.

The project team is designing a rocket and experimental propellant mixture for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). The rocket is a level 2 rocket and needs to be reusable as a means to try out various propellant mixtures in the future. The goal of these tests is for the design of safe, reliable custom motors for future rocketry competitions for SEDS. This will give more control over the performance of the rocket.