COSROCS project

Home

	COSROCS Large Rocket project. The idea here is for COSROCS, as club effort, build a large rocket - as in NAR/Tripoli Level 3 performance. The purpose is to successfully fly and recover the rocket, but also to "show off" the rocket at public events. This effort will start with everyone individually building a scaled down version of the final club rocket design (mid power/Level 1 rocket) working together at build sessions to share design and construction techniques and advancing our skills. We would then combine these skills and work together on a larger Level 2 capable rocket, and subsequently build our COSROCS large scale rocket project. By the time we're finished we will have, hopefully, expanded our skill levels, increased the number of members with high power certifications, and we'll have a rocket that's probably too big for the trailer.

	So far, the following activities have occurred. A proposal was made to build a ring fin design, which will be unique, challenging and impressive when we set it up for static display. Ernie Puckett created two ring fin design versions, using RockSim. These two designs are mid power/Level 1 capable. He provided me hard copies and I scaled down these plans, built a few different sizes and flew them on A through E motors at the last few launches.
	Recently, I built one of Ernie's designs to scale and flew it at the Spring Fling on a G motor. The rocket flies well and is definitely unique looking on the pad. The next step is to make the designs available for everyone and find out who would like to participate in this effort. Post your thoughts on this on the Yahoo email thread. Do any members have any experience working on this type of project?

	I've finished freeing up a little more space downstairs, so I'm ready to begin hosting COSROCs club build sessions, starting in February 2009. There will be two sessions per month. Session one will be on the first Sunday of each month from 10AM-2PM. Session two will be on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 6-9PM. I'll be hosting these from my home, where we can work inside my basement as well the garage, at this mapquest address. In my garage, I have the club metal/wood lathe, the club bandsaw, and various hand/power tools. In the basement I have a couple of work benches, a small electronics lab setup, and both a PC and Mac internet connection. If you bring your laptop, I have a few extra ports on my DSL connection. I also should be able to store a few of your Level 1 sized rockets projects(or smaller) inside in the work area. We can start working on our club project by building our individual ring fin rockets. Eventually, we can have specific sessions focused on build techniques, unique designs, fiberglassing, electronics, Cg/Cp calculations, aerodynamics, maximizing altitude, parachute making, etc... Or, if you only need to come over for the lathe that's fine too. I hope we can get a mix of experience levels to turn out, learn/share ideas and have fun.