Flight Reports (mostly)

Flight 1a report

Flight 2a report

Flight 2b report

Flight 2c report

Flight 2d report

Flight 2e report

Flight 3a report

Flight 3b report

 

Capsule Recovery System Test


slow motion video

Test details
  • Fully loaded capsule recovery  chamber
  • First testing of changed capsule nose ejection charge position.  Originally I had it above the chutes but because of the results from flight 1a, I decided to put it below the chutes. This increases the chance the chute will be deployed even if the nose cap comes off prematurely. 
  • First test firing the ejection charge with the tower still in place. This is to verify that the tower will be blown free if stuck as in flight 2b.
  • 1 gram of BP
  • Looking to see how well the Nomex will protect the chutes in such a tight chamber
  • Test the aluminum tape technique of holding on the nose cap for the free fall

Results

  • Clean deployment
  • Aluminum tape broke cleanly
  • No significant burn issues
  • Tower blown free without issue
  • Successful deployment of the drogue chute

 

Capsule Decoupling Tests


slow motion video

Test details
  • First decoupling test
  • Fully loaded capsule (except for tower)
  • Attached deployment bag to test booster drogue extraction
  • Shear pins

Results

  • Good solid capsule decoupling
  • Good evidence that the drogue chute will deploy
  • No evidence of any structural issues (this was the early version of the heat shield)


slow motion video

Test details
  • First decoupling test after the redesign of the coupling system
  • Fully loaded capsule (except for tower)
  • Shear pins
  • 1/2 gram of BP (pretty sure it was 1/2 gram)

Results

  • Good solid capsule decoupling
  • Interesting gray plume when the charge first goes off, no doubt the dog barf
  • Slight burning on the base of the capsule


slow motion video

Test details
  • Second decoupling test after the redesign of the coupling system
  • Partially loaded capsule (no astronaut or hatch)
  • Heavier shear pins
  • Full gram of BP
  • Two Davey ematches, to test the configuration used for flight 2c
  • Stuffed PVC with "dog barf" wadding to see what effect it might have on the flame.

Results

  • Good solid capsule decoupling
  • Interesting gray plume when the charge first goes off, no doubt the dog barf
  • Slight burning on the base of the capsule