Sport Rocketry

SPORT ROCKETRY MAY/JUNE 2017 31 RUD Launch Day: July 23, 2016, at NARAM-58 in Springfield, Missouri. Some say it's the true initiation—a test of true grit in the hobby of model rocketry. Every space agency and most hobbyists have experienced them. Nothing can ruin a rocketeer's day more than a "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly" (RUD). I'm far from being the only hobbyist to experience a RUD, but I will tell you for a few moments it felt like I was. The culmination of over three years of design, con- quering challenges, testing, breaking, redesigning, and waiting for that perfect day all came to a spectacular end approximately three seconds after lift-off. The forward closure of the RMS-38/1080 reload suffered a breach. This motor cato was akin to a blowtorch, the hot gasses cutting through the casing and airframe, leading to a full RUD. Mestler was a total loss. In the end, I did manage to recover amazing video from the airframe camera capturing the cato along with some data from the flight systems. Yes, I am taking some time off to recover, but more so to clear my head and begin planning the rebuild. I've learned a lot in the past three years of this build—experi- ence that will be applied to the rebuild. If anything, I'll take this away from the entire experience: She did fly—and for several glorious seconds she flew straight—small fins and all! With that said I hope Mr. Mestler finds it in his heart to grade me with a curve this time! I know he'd ap- preciate the effort regardless. A special thanks to everyone who worked with me and supported me over the last three-plus years on this project: Dallas Area Rocket Society, Tripoli North Texas, my ground crew Dave Florcik and Sam Barone, Chris at naramlive.com, the folks at NARAM-58, and especially my wife Erica. More information, videos, build pictures, and RUD pictures are available at http:// www.andrac.com. Relay Unit. Have you done a science fair project that involves model rocketry? If so, you can enter your project into the NAR Junior Member Science Fair Contest. Up to six winners will receive free NAR membership renewals including First Class delivery of Sport Rocketry magazine! If you don't have a science fair project involving model rocketry, start thinking ahead to next year, because the NAR will run this same contest next year. CONTEST RULES: 1. The contest is open to NAR Junior members. 2. Any science fair project involving model rocketry or high power rocketry is eligible to enter. The project can be a study of some aspect of rocketry, or it can be a project that utilizes rockets as a testing or data collection tool. Projects entered in a previous year's contest are not eligible for entry in this year's contest. 3. Submissions should include photocopies and/or photographs of your science fair report and display graphics. Include whatever material you feel will help the judges to better evaluate your project. You may also submit files on CD or DVD disc. A photograph of your self by your science fair display or conducting your rocketry project would be appreciated, but is not required. 4. Entries will be judged on Research Value and Originality, Scientific Thought and Engineering Goals, Organization and Thoroughness, Effort, and Clarity. 5. Membership renewals won in the contest are not transferable to other persons. 6. All Junior members who enter the contest will be listed in Sport Rocketry magazine. 7. You retain any copyright and commercial rights to your projects. You grant the NAR the right to publish your project in any of its publications. The entry materials become the property of the NAR and cannot be returned. 8. Deadline for entry (by postmark) is June 30, 2017. (We will run the contest again next year, so start thinking ahead!) 9. Send submissions to: Thomas Beach, Science Fair Contest, 432 Pruitt Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Be sure to include your name, NAR number, address, phone number, and email address (if applicable). NAR Junior Member Science Fair Contest Victoria Hamlin, 2016 winner. Figure 19. The Android rover control software interface.

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