10km Above the surface of the Earth!

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10km Above the surface of the Earth!

http://www.aerospace-research.co.za/web_pages/projects.htm

Mission: Fly a Rocket to 10km above the surface of the Earth and recover it safely with a parachute system.

Purpose: To set a new African Altitude Record and boost a project of a local Education Institution to new heights!

This also the first step to the ultimate goal of launching a South African-built Rocket into Space!

Payload: A project developed by the Vaal University of Technology

Launch date: TBA

Launch Site: North-West Province, South Africa

Below are a few pics from CNBC Africa's (DSTV Ch 54) program featuring Johann Grobler, the founder of SAASA and AeroSpace Research.

Johann is discussing the 10km project and other Rocketry related topics.

Background:

The current Altitude Record in South Africa is set at just below 3Km above ground level (AGL).

This project will attempt to set a new South African and African Record of 10Km or more.

During this attempt, a payload will be carried in the Rocket that will allow High Altitude Testing (HAT) to be conducted by the Vaal University of Technology.

Sponsorship:

To make this project possible, sponsorship is required in the form of logistical and financial support.

Your company can become a part of this project as a major sponsor or the Title Sponsor.

A major sponsor will receive the following:

Advertising space on launch day.

Logo on the Booster section of the Rocket.

Logo on team gear.

Link to company website.

Be listed on the ASR website a major contributor.

Sponsorship in the amount of R5 000 to R10 000 will qualify as a major contributor.

A Title Sponsor will receive the following:

Entire Rocket Vehicle painted in the corporate colours.

Advertising space on launch day. Prominent placing is guaranteed.

Logos on the Sustainer section of the Rocket.

Logo on team gear and equipment like the launch pad.

Link to company website.

Web page dedicated to your company's involvement with the project.

Title Sponsorship is in the amount of R50 000.

Media Coverage:

This project has been announced on CNBC Africa (DSTV Channel 54) in June 2007. The channel is doing follow-up inserts on this project.

Magazines like Engineering News and Popular Mechanics have done articles on the event.

Many national media agencies have been notified of the event and are eager to cover the launch.

Our website is well visited and will feature up-to-date information on the project and it's sponsors.

October 25, 2008, 07:46:12 AM

#1

Ryno

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

Hi All!

It seems that we have been beaten by our fellow rocketeers SARA. They reached a height of 10km on 18 October 2008.

We have agreed that this the perfect time take this project very seriously.

First of all we need a devoted team! If you want to be a part of this team and project please contact us.

Next we need sponsors. If you think you can sponsor us with anything possible please contact us.

Information can also be very helpful. We will need as much help as possible for this project.

If you have any ideas on the build of the rocket please reply on this thread.

We are currently brainstorming the whole project so any ideas are welcome.

As soon as all the planning and sponsors are finalized we can start testing etc...

October 25, 2008, 08:25:30 AM

#2

johanngr

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

I have been looking at a 102mm M-class booster with a 76mm M-class sustainer. If the weight and diameters are kept to a minimum it will reach 10km with no problem. This means that it can break 10km with N-power!

Ideas or comments?

Johann - The Rocket Guy!

October 25, 2008, 09:50:53 AM

#3

Ryno

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

There have been new developments lately that use pistonless fuel pumps for sustainers. I am currently doing some research on these pumps. It will be much more work but it will work perfect as a liquid fuel sustainer.

October 26, 2008, 10:17:09 AM

#4

Ryno

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

The solid fuel motors might be a better option if we want to keep the costs as low as possible.

;)I can sponsor a main chute.

September 18, 2009, 02:13:59 AM

#5

johanngr

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

This project has dragged on for too long now. So, I decided to get started on it and build a rocket.

Now, who is with me?

Johann - The Rocket Guy!

September 23, 2009, 09:50:54 AM

#6

Ryno

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

Im with you!

I think its about time we start with the planning phase!

Maybe if we can present something we will be able to get sponsors!

September 23, 2009, 09:59:47 AM

#7

johanngr

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

Exactly! My proposal for 10km is a 102mm motor in a minimum diameter airframe. I have the parts for the rocket but need the motor. Propellant is not a problem although we are thinking about Ammonium Nitrate instead of the RNX-SA1.

Johann - The Rocket Guy!

September 23, 2009, 12:19:06 PM

#8

Ryno

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Visit booster 11's website.

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

I will check for sponsors for the motor.

Have you ever tested the ammonium fuel?
The other fuel you talked about, is that the standard KNO3 fuel?

September 23, 2009, 02:57:55 PM

#9

booster 11

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

Earlier this year i did some experiments with ANCP (ammonium nitrate composite propellant) in which i found out the following

1.its more difficult then it sonds
2.it needs a stable pressure and temp to opporate to full capacity
3.dont use prilled ammonium nitrate fertilizer
4.it has quit e a nice kick if it works well

I to my knowledge ANCP is about 50% stronger then the RNX-SA1

Lets go for the 10km with the current fuel
no extra development costs
and we already have something thats works well(proven)

South African Doctor Rocket

September 23, 2009, 07:31:57 PM

#10

Rikus

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

Hi Johan.

You can count me in on the project. I will speak to my brother as well we were both vey active during the old SAMROC days. As you can guess I am still a bit behind schedule on the scratch build for my level 1, but I will get to it.

Just some comments from my experiece in the past:
For a challenge like this keep it simple, stick to what you know.
AN propellants do have benefits, but the chemical grade is a requirement. The fertilzer stuff has been "down tuned" diluted with lime-stone (KAN kalksteen ammonium nitraat) by around 60% for exactly this reason, to prevent honest guys from making rocket fuel :-).
You can distill it out but it takes a hell of a long time, lab grade AN can purchased from AECI, but there is as serious paper trail as far as I know.

The best would be to stick to the KNO33 fuel, you know its characteristics, and adding enhancers can give it some extra zir.

The best would be to fully characterize the fuel, and then characerize the motor performance, static burns to get the thrust curves, and then to run some serious sims on motor presure etc to get the optinum flight weights and burn times.

I have access to state of the art finite element analysis tools as well as flow metic stuff, so we could do a huge amount in optomising the motor and airframe etc.

Have you done any simulation work with propep or the likes on the RXN fuel?

Just to come back to your proposal, I am with you on the two stager, a booster with a sustainer will give us the best chance.

Basically, I can help in the following areas:
Airframe design and simulations.
Electronics and software
I am a bit rusted on motor design, but I am very well qualified in mathematical analysis and simulations, so I can run the numbers if required.

Keep me posted

Regards

Rikus

September 25, 2009, 10:44:07 AM

#11

Ryno

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

I think if we reach the goal of 10km we can start doing research on AN fuels.

We should establish a team for this project and really get starting. Johann I can make this project page private if we want to share plans and info that we wan't to keep confidential, it's up to you.

September 25, 2009, 12:21:11 PM

#12

johanngr

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Re: 10km Above the surface of the Earth!

We should keep the page public for now. Once we have enough team members to make it happen, we should make it private. We can make regular updates public but the project details should be available only to the team members.

Johann

Johann - The Rocket Guy!

September 27, 2009, 04:37:25 PM

#13

Ryno

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