Difference between revisions of "MakerLaunch"

Revision as of 03:29, 14 November 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. It will carry the MakerSat. 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

• 11/10/10 - Steve Mustakis from HALO built a mass model of the third stage of the launch vehicle to determine if an 80% mass fraction was achievable for our building method. Determined that it was possible. Spacefelix will purchase materials to begin construction.
• 10/9/10 - Met with Tim Weaver from HALO to decide on launch tube or balloon launch method for rocket. Concluded that the delta-V gain from a balloon launch would be higher than a launch tube. For the launch tube to have a comparable delta-V, it would need to be extremely long and accelerate an incredible amount. This would require the rocket to be structurally reinforced and therefore have a higher mass fraction. Therefore, we settled on a balloon launch method.
• 9/1/10 - Spacefelix with HALO started the design of a structural and propulsion test article of the third stage of the proposed launch vehicle. This article would determine if our manufacturing methods would be able to achieve the required mass fraction and structural strength for flight.
• 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).

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.
  • Tracking - The rocket and satellite must have a sufficient tracking system that can either be seen or received on the ground during ascent and 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.

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?
• Tracking Concept - Spacefelix discussed visual and radar target tracking means for the satellite. Due to the very specific positions (during dusk or dawn) in which a satellite is visible, visual means would not be practical. As for radar, it would be difficult to find a radar to operate for this mission. Radio tracking from the ground is therefore the most practical option. BrokenTrace mentioned that instead of trying to track from the ground, we could alternatively try to broadcast to the AMSAT or OSCAR ham radio satellite network and have it repeat our signal so that we can confirm which satellites and stations are picking it up and therefore determine a location. Bill Brown advised against this and recommended that due to the trajectory of a satellite, communication with other satellites may be difficult. He also stated that the most practical method for satellite tracking is to receive the satellite's signal from a point of view where the largest arc of its trajectory is visible. This increases the chances of contact. Also, this would require a ground station with an antenna array to pick up the signal. He recommends that we test tracking concepts by flying attenuated radio beacons on weather balloons to simulate spaceflight conditions. We could then see what orientations give the best signal pickup for various tracking methods.

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 soild propellant rocket that has the following specifications.

People

• Bendersgame
• Brokentrace
• Spacefelix
• Your Name Here

Resources