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Propulsion Card Storming¶
Covers fuel & oxidizer storage, injector, combustion chamber, nozzle, and anything necessary to keep those items “stable”
Unsorted list of ideas¶
- Indoor test stand for testing a compressed air cold gas thruster
- test stands don't seem to be mentioned anywhere specifically
- probably fine just cuz it's so low power anyway
- 3D printed cold gas thruster for use on an indoor test stand
- hard to picture how this is anything other than a pneumatic valve
- maybe pneumatic valves are controlled if they have a certain capacity
- staging hobby and high-powered rocket motors
- the federal stuff doesn't cover this size rockets
- I haven't seen the relevant regs yet
- develop a series of larger test stands scaled around the classes of model and high powered rocketry certifications
- see first test stand comment above
- recreate Greg's undergrad sugar hybrid motor
- probably fine since it's probably equivalent to a class project
- upgrade Mach 30 test stand DAQ to include high speed video
- I doubt anyone cares about high speed video
- develop Arduino (or similar) model rocket launch controller board (including physical safety lock)
- upgrade Mach 30 test stand DAQ to work over ethernet to extend operational range between operators and test stand
- fine. actually probably encouraged for safety reasons
- series of courses/kits to take users through high powered rocketry certs (required to purchase high powered motors)
- fine, and also probably encouraged
- Learn about and be comfortable using Reloadable rocket motors
- should be fine as long as it's model/high-powered
- Distributed laboratory software
- Re-lightable motors, turn off and back on (means hybrid, or liquid engine, but not solid)
- certain fuels are controlled
- The MTCR Item 3 Cat II covers hybrid rocket motors, but the MTCR covers f**king everything associated with rockets anyway
- Ramp up test stand prototypes by increments of High-power certification levels
- each one would be considered individually
- Storage and handling of cryogenic liquids?
- I don't see that anywhere, but I could have missed it
- the CCL seems to list cryogenic parts if they are used to refine uranium, so there's that
- Simulation, analysis, design and testing of cooling systems (for combustion chamber, nozzle, and throat)
- not sure if it's controlled on its own, but since it's inseparable from the motors it's probably wrapped up there
- Variable nozzle designs
- who's idea was this? Oh, right, mine. Just ignore this one :)
- Flow visualization
- Nozzle comparison (Aerospike to traditional designs)
- Injector design (fuel and/or oxidizer) to maximize combustion efficiency
- Research Test stand configurations (vertical in addition to horizontal)
- Survey the existing instructions and informational materials for building engines and motors.
- Move from testing commercial off-the-shelf items (motors and engines) to building and testing custom built items.
- Address Instrumentation: how to collect data on motor tests.
- Material and manufacturing techniques for nozzles (3-D printed)
- Open source software altitude and flight profiles - Performance calculations
- Study fuel grain design (parameters) to optimize burn profile
- Logistics, procedures, and infrastructure for Pay-for-testing, using Mach 30 equipment (income generation)
- 3-D printed fuel grains
- Research additional income streams RE: Propulsion (educational kits, grants, etc) - We can add this to all subsystems?
- Linear aerospike studies
- Combustion chemistry, develop open source software tools (NOTE: See NASA CEA)
- Environmental simulation and testing (expanding flight envelope)
- High operations tempo, flight rate motors.
- Non-chemical propulsion (however this is low TRL/maturity)
- Developing refueling ground equipment “on the tarmac”
- Focus on maintainability, ease of operations.
- Procedures and equipment for “mode 2 operations” for simulation and testing
- Focus on safety procedures (not just during tests).
- Operational Countdown Checklist as it relates to the propulsion engine test checklist procedures.
- Develop a cultural delineation between “Operations or Test staff” and “Design staff” -- Maybe eventually specialize into 3 groups
- Handbook for stakeholder collaboration (state, local, federal agencies and regulations)
- Rules of thumb for Launch/test site size space, in handbook form.
- Develop relationships with potential test sites
- Acoustic, Vibration, Acceleration simulation and testing.
- Procedures to optimize, advertize, public viewing and interaction SAFELY.
- Remote viewing (Cameras for online streaming video streaming) to maximize audience.
- Rocket exhaust plume studies (morse code??)
- Ground operations communications equip and procedures.
- Disaster recovery plan for catastrophic mishap.
- Procurement/development of transportation and handling equipment for stands and motors (flatbed trailers, etc)