Difference between revisions of "MakerLaunch"

Revision as of 00:51, 19 September 2010

Overview

This page is for the MakerLaunch project. Makers Local 256's spaceflight effort with HAL5's HALO Project to make a launcher that can win the N-Prize Competition. The N-Prize offers two cash Prizes, each of £9,999.99 (nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds and ninety-nine pence, sterling, $15,589.05). The prizes will be awarded to the first persons or groups to put into orbit around the Earth a satellite with a mass of between 9.99 and 19.99 grams, and to prove that it has completed at least 9 orbits with the 9th orbit occuring before 19:19:09 (GMT) on the 19th September 2011. One prize (the "single-spend-to-orbit", or "SSO" Prize) will be awarded to the first entrant to complete the challenge using a non-reusable launch system. The other prize (the "reusable vehicle" or "RV" Prize) will be awarded to the first entrant to complete the challenge using a partially or wholly reusable launch system. Both prizes carry equal status. The cost of the launch, but not ground facilities, must fall within a budget of £999.99 ($1,558.89). Entrants for the RV Prize may exceed this budget, but must demonstrate recovery of hardware such that the per-launch cost remains within £999.99 ($1,558.89). Imaginative use of string and chewing gum is encouraged. Entrants are responsible for everything, organisers are responsible for nothing. N-Prize Competition Rules In Full

Calendar

Status

• 9/3/10 - Discussed satellite tracking method with Bill Brown. He recommends that we test our tracking concepts and other flight hardware by near-space balloon flights to approximate spaceflight conditions.
• 9/1/10 - CrashCartPro made mention of a satellite concept that would be a hack or recreation of a solar-powered radio bird tracker that would have the right weight to meet the N-Prize satellite requirements. Also, BrokenTrace thought of a satellite tracking concept using ham radio frequencies and the existing AMSAT and OSCAR satellite network.
• 6-8/10 - Have done some preliminary calculations on what kind of rocket would be required to put a 19-gram payload in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Concepts

Rocket Options

• Solid - High Isp and simple to build, but dangerous to handle/store propellants due to high explosive potential. Per Steve Mustakis from HALO, we will need an ATF-certified storage vault and licensed personnel to handle solid propellants. Such resources ought to be readily available with a local high-powered rocketry club.
• Hybrid - Lower Isp, but have the safety benefit of a liquid rocket due to the oxidizer and fuel being separate and inert on their own.
• Liquid - Lowest Isp, but safe since oxidizer and fuel can be stored separately. Also, requires complex plumbing systems.

Satellite Options

• Hacked Bird Tracker - CrashCartPro made mention that there is a solar-powered radio bird tracker that is comparable in mass to the N-Prize requirements. We would have to modify or recreate one for spaceflight.
• Have a Tx\Rx capability to leave small twitter like messages on the Satellite for hackerspaces to send to each other.
  • Can this be done with a satellite this small?

Challenges

• Technical
  • Structure - Achieving flight with a vehicle that meets the required masses for orbital flight. It must be light enough to get to orbit, yet strong enough to withstand the stresses of flight, burning propellants and propulsion.
  • Guidance and Control - The vehicle must follow a precise trajectory to get on-orbit as well as perform staging and satellite deployment.
  • Propulsion - We must have a propulsion system that meets the required thrust and ISP for orbital flight.
  • Satellite - It must be light enough to meet competition requirements, yet be able to operate long enough to achieve and confirm 9 earth orbits. It must be able to survive the extreme thermal conditions in space (as there is no atmosphere in the vacuum of space, there is no medium to regulate temperature) and exposure to cosmic radiation. It must have a sufficient tracking system that can either be seen or received on the ground from orbit.
• Financial
  • High Cost of Spaceflight - Achieving orbit on a 1g planet with an atmosphere is a wonder in of itself given the energy required. Getting to orbit on a barely-controlled explosion is always expensive and risky. Therefore, partnerships with people who work with rocketry on the amateur level and sponsorships are a must.

Vehicle Sizing

We are assuming the required delta V total will be 10,000 m/s (22,369 mph) (normal LEO orbital velocity of around 7,800 m/s (17,448 mph) rounded to 8,000 m/s (17,895 mph) plus an added 2,000 m/s (4,474 mph) from atmospheric drag and gravitational losses) from sea-level to LEO altitude. Currently, we are looking at a three-stage hybrid propellant rocket that has the following specifications.

People

• Bendersgame
• Brokentrace
• Spacefelix
• Your Name Here

Resources