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Static Test: KNO3 Sucrose PVC motor
Date:April 7, 2001
Weather: partly cloudy, app. 40 degrees F
Author: Benjamin
Type: Static Test flight
Acquired altitude: (none)

We have just about finished work on a kno3 sucrose motor. Instead of a paper casing, though, we are using PVC. This allows us to reach much more pressure within the chamber. By packing more fuel, we get a good, steady, higher chamber pressure, which means a steady, higher thrust. We static tested an A motor (we have yet to calculate specific impulse and the exact thrust). This weekend, a launch is scheduled for a B motor of the same design. Because of the B motor's hight, we were able to build the rocket around the motor, and we were still able to get a good , stable design. The static test of the A motor was very successful. The first attempt to ignite it failed, for the igniter short-circuited. The second attempt failed as well, for the igniter worked, but it was not long enough, and therefor was not in contact with the fuel. A quick correction of this problem successfully ignited the motor. The motor gained thrust quickly, and maintained top thrust for about 5 seconds. Burnout was almost sudden, unlike the usual, gradual burnout of rocket motors. This shows a very effecient, constant burn of the fuel. Unfortunately, the camera battery died during the static test, so we do not have video footage of it. An examination of the motor after the test showed no stress. The only indication that the motor had been ignited was the black mark around the throat of the nozzle. We hope to further develop these PVC motors to get a good, high thrust motor.es (the throat of the nozzle was the same diameter). Also, the core of this rocket was only half the distance from the fuel to the plug. Because the core of these rockets is cut down by half, the fuel burns quickly for takeoff, but then slows down to maintain the pressure needed for a nice, slower burn. 488.89 feet is an amazing altitude compared to the previous tests. After a year of building rocket engines, this is the most successful launch of any of them. Because this was a test of an engine, it was launched strapped to a dowel rod, rather than being launched in a rocket, and because we did not know if the rocket would detonate, or lift off at all, we decided not to waste a model. Now that we have witnessed the performance of these engines, though, we hope for some very successful launches in the near future.

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