MakerLaunch
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[hide]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
- 6-8/10 - Have done some preliminary calculations on what kind of rocket would be required to put a various payload masses to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) velocity and altitude.
Concepts
Rocket Options
- Solid
- Hybrid
- Liquid
Satellite Options
- 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
- 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 (normal LEO orbital velocity of around 7,800 m/s (17,448 mph) rounded to 8,000 m/s plus an added 2,000 m/s from atmospheric drag and gravitational losses) from sea-level to LEO altitude. Currently, we are looking at a three-stage rocket that has the following specifications.
19-gram Payload Assumed | ISP (seconds) | Inert Mass (kg) | Propellant Mass (kg) | Mass Fraction | Delta V (m/s) | Inital Mass (kg) |
First Stage | 210 | 4.82 | 27.33 | 0.85 | 3112.12 | 35.07 |
Second Stage | 242.5 | 0.41 | 2.31 | 0.85 | 3738.93 | 2.91 |
Third Stage | 275 | 0.04 | 0.14 | 0.77 | 0. |
People
- Bendersgame
- Brokentrace
- Spacefelix
- Your Name Here