Flight 1 - The Enterprise

We got together early on a cold morning to launch our first TARC 2016 rocket.  We built the motor at home and got the ballast weighed and ready for the booster and headed out into the desert to launch. 

 Getting ready at home

Setting up the launch pad

 

Waiting in the cold (it was about 32 degrees)

Getting ready to launch

  

Team photo before the flight!

Inaugural flight of the Enterprise 
The flight (aka "That didn't go as planned")

 

The remains:

What happened?  The launch cables and the ignition wire got stuck.  Normally the ignition wire comes out at launch but today it didn't and the cables held on because the motor worked and pushed the rocket it had to go somewhere.  As you can see in the video the cables held on, the rocket went up and then when the launch cables were at the limit the rocket went 90 degrees and took off.   


What does this mean?  Well, luckily we built two rockets so we have another to use and test with.  What happened?  When we were putting the motor together the ignition wire was a tight fit and hard to get in the cap.  We even said that out loud but nobody really "snapped" to what that could mean.  It's a lesson learned for sure and something to watch out for next flight.

Did this derail our progress?  No.  We are still on track to keep flying and try to get to nationals.   This was just an experience to work with and learn from.  

Next Team Sigma rocket on deck is the Llamacorn!  And we ordered parts to build two more rockets.  




Need to contact us?  teamsigmarockets@yahoo.com

Donations

https://www.gofundme.com/teamsigmatarc Please note, donations made to our GoFundMe account are not tax-deductible as they are considered a gift.  

Tax-deductible donations:

Please make a check payable to Albuquerque ACTSO with Team Sigma Rocketry in the memo. 

ACTSO
c/o NAACP
PO Box 1922
Albuquerque, NM 87103-1922

Rocket Building

We finalized our design and double checked our data, so now it is time to build the rocket.   We consulted the design and measured our parts and got to work.  Our build is a two-part process.  We have to build the first parts, glue and then wait until it dries to move to the next step.

Here is Step 1:

Review Design and Practice Cutting on Old Tubes

And Measure

 

 Prep

 Cut

Glue and Set

Now we wait and finish up Step 2 in a few days which is waiting for things to dry and putting the rocket together.

Need to contact us?  teamsigmarockets@yahoo.com

Donations

https://www.gofundme.com/teamsigmatarc Please note, donations made to our GoFundMe account are not tax-deductible as they are considered a gift.  

Tax-deductible donations:

Please make a check payable to Albuquerque ACTSO with Team Sigma Rocketry in the memo. 

ACTSO
c/o NAACP
PO Box 1922
Albuquerque, NM 87103-1922