HPR Level 1 Certification Rocket
HPR Level 1 Certification Rocket
In Fall 2017 the Florida Tech Student Rocket Society held a series of classes to teach it's members how to build their own amateur rockets and earn their NAR (National Association of Rocketry) High Powered Rocket Level 1 Certification.
Certifications are required to buy rocket motors above certain impulse ratings. Ratings A-G require no certification, H & I require a Level 1, J-L require a Level 2, M and above require a Level 3 certification.In Fall 2017 the Florida Tech Student Rocket Society held a series of classes to teach it's members how to build their own amateur rockets and earn their NAR (National Association of Rocketry) High Powered Rocket Level 1 Certification.
Per the club's direction, I designed my rocket in the rocket design software Open Rocket, the design can be seen above. My rocket, Leviathan, was flew on an H128 motor, which was be provided by the rocket club. The rocket was designed to be the simplest rocket possible that would meet Level 1 requirements, meaning the rocket simply had to fly on a Level 1 class motor (H or I rating) and be recovered in flyable condition. To achieve this, the rocket was designed to be as large as possible. This minimized the altitude it would achieve and therefore maximize the chances it could be found and not be lost in the brush. This lead to the selection of 2, 32" long 4" diameter tubes to form the body of the rocket. This were the largest commercially available body tubes within my budget. The rocket was estimated to fly to a height of 800 feet. A single 36" parachute would be deployed at apogee to slow the descent of the rocket for a safe landing.
Per the club's direction, I designed my rocket in the rocket design software Open Rocket, the design can be seen above. My rocket, Leviathan, was flew on an H128 motor, which was be provided by the rocket club. The rocket was designed to be the simplest rocket possible that would meet Level 1 requirements, meaning the rocket simply had to fly on a Level 1 class motor (H or I rating) and be recovered in flyable condition. To achieve this, the rocket was designed to be as large as possible. This minimized the altitude it would achieve and therefore maximize the chances it could be found and not be lost in the brush. This lead to the selection of 2, 32" long 4" diameter tubes to form the body of the rocket. This were the largest commercially available body tubes within my budget. The rocket was estimated to fly to a height of 800 feet. A single 36" parachute would be deployed at apogee to slow the descent of the rocket for a safe landing.
This rocket was built in November 2017 and subsequently flew in December 2017. Unfortunately the initial design had underestimated the weight of the rocket and the 36" parachute did not sufficiently slow the rockets decent. The rocket landed harder than planned, but luckily landed in soft dirt and avoided any damage. Having avoided damage, the flight was deemed a success, earning me my level 1 certification. You can see above that the rocket's first flight was without paint, as the club's tradition was that the rocket should earn it's paint. Having done so, it received it's paint in early 2018, before flying again in February of 2018, with the addition of an onboard camera and a larger 52" parachute. The footage from that flight can be seen below (Audio Warning).
This rocket was built in November 2017 and subsequently flew in December 2017. Unfortunately the initial design had underestimated the weight of the rocket and the 36" parachute did not sufficiently slow the rockets decent. The rocket landed harder than planned, but luckily landed in soft dirt and avoided any damage. Having avoided damage, the flight was deemed a success, earning me my level 1 certification. You can see above that the rocket's first flight was without paint, as the club's tradition was that the rocket should earn it's paint. Having done so, it received it's paint in early 2018, before flying again in February of 2018, with the addition of an onboard camera and a larger 52" parachute. The footage from that flight can be seen below (Audio Warning).
