Shepard Test Stand

h1. Requirements Document v1.0

Draft: 2012-05-03

This requirements document is currently being discussed on the forums "here":https://opendesignengine.net/boards/4/topics/72

Each requirement is labeled with STSR (Shepard Test Stand Requirement), followed by the number of the "initial question":https://opendesignengine.net/projects/shepard-ts/wiki/Initial_Questions_v1_0 that the requirement corresponds to, followed by a dot and then the ID number of the requirement.

Occurrences of "STS" stand for "Shepard Test Stand".

h3. STSR 1 - Why are we making this?

*STSR 1.1*  The STS must accommodate low power, commercially available amateur rocket motors sized A through E.

*STSR 1.2*  The STS must be mobile enough to enable live demonstrations as part of educational and outreach activities.

h3. STSR 2 - Who is this for?

*STSR 2.1*  The STS must be well documented so as to meet the needs of open source spaceflight designers who will design and build future test stands (at Mach 30 and elsewhere).

*STSR 2.2* The STS documentation and procedures must be complete enough that Mach 30 operators, students and educators who want to bring rocket engineering into the classroom, and anyone else interested in how rockets are tested can learn how to use it.

*STSR 2.3*  The STS documentation must cover the engine testing procedure from test stand setup, to running tests, and ending with stowing the test stand.

h3. STSR 3 - How will this be used?

*STSR 3.1* The design and operation of the STS shall be conducted in compliance with The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Standards & Testing Committee Motor Testing Manual, Version 1.5, Effective Date: July 1, 2011, henceforth referred to as the NAR testing manual.

*STSR 3.2* Must be useful for the verification of Estes thrust vs time "motor performance data":http://estes.aptinet.com/images/page%2033.pdf .

*STSR 3.3* Must be able to record exhaust temperature vs time of Estes motors and transport that data to a laptop computer.

*STSR 3.4* In accordance with (IAW) the safety procedures which are outlined in Section 8 of the "NAR Standards & Testing Committee Motor Testing Manual Version 1.5":http://www.nar.org/SandT/docs/ST-MotorTestingManual.pdf .

h3. STSR 4 - What features does it need to have (now)?

*STSR 4.1* The STS shall be easily set up and torn down for demonstration purposes.

*STSR 4.2* The STS shall be easy to package for shipment to any event at which it will be used.

*STSR 4.3* The STS shall provide a stable base on which to test model rocket motors.

*STSR 4.4* The STS shall keep an accurate timestamp for each data point collected during the test.

*STSR 4.5* In accordance with (IAW) NAR testing manual requirements specified in Section 8.5, the STS shall use a “load cell calibrated with a NIST traceable weight standard”. "1":http://www.nar.org/SandT/docs/ST-MotorTestingManual.pdf

*STSR 4.6* In accordance with (IAW) NAR testing manual requirements specified in Section 8.5, the STS shall use a data collection system “where the least significant bit (LSB) has a value that is” 0.006 lbs (“less than 0.33% percent of the average thrust of the motor under test”). "1":http://www.nar.org/SandT/docs/ST-MotorTestingManual.pdf

h3. STSR 5 - What features does it need to have (later)?

These are for reference only so that future features can be accommodated in the current design where practical.

*_Version 2.0:_*

*STSR 5.1* High and low speed video capture of the tests from multiple angles.

*STSR 5.2* Integrated ignition system so the test management software can control the entire test.

*STSR 5.3* Additional measurements.

*STSR 5.4* Higher resolution measurements.

*_Beyond Version 2.0 (Accommodation of):_*

*STSR 5.5* High power commercial solid motors.

*STSR 5.6* Small hybrid motors (on the thrust scale of high power commercial solid motors).

*STSR 5.7* Larger thrust hybrid motors.

*STSR 5.8* Small liquid engines.

*STSR 5.9* Medium liquid engines.

*STSR 5.10* Large liquid engines.

h3. STSR 6 - What are the legacy requirements?

*STSR 6.1* Any desktop computer based control software for the STS should run on all three major PC platforms (MS Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux).

*STSR 6.2* The STS must use standard connections to the computer running the control software (for example, USB, Ethernet, or similar connections).

h3. STSR 7 - Who's going to build this?

*STSR 7.1* All STS design documentation must be open and complete enough so that ANYONE, without necessarily a technical education in rocketry, propulsion, or engineering, would be able to build and operate a Shepard test stand.

h3. STSR 8 - How many do we want to make?

*STSR 8.1* The design of the STS must enable the completion of at least one operational test stand.

*STSR 8.2* Whenever and wherever possible, considerations should be made so that the design of this STS can be used as a kit in the future.

h3. STSR 9 - What is the budget?

*STSR 9.1* The cost of the first operational STS must not exceed $200 excluding "consumables" and tools.

h3. STSR 10 - What is the timeline?

*STSR 10.1* If at all possible, the STS should be completed within 3 months of formal launch as an exercise of agile design.

h3. STSR 11 - What waste products will be produced by the manufacture and/or operation of this?

*STSR 11.1* Disposal of the spent Estes motors should conform to all local, state, and federal guidelines.

*STSR 11.2* Electronic waste items, including batteries and circuit boards, must also be disposed of according to all local, state, and federal guidelines.

*STSR 11.3* If the frame of the STS is damaged beyond repair during operation, proper disposal/recycling guidelines must be followed for the materials used in its construction.

*STSR 11.4* Wherever possible, the design should make it as easy as possible to replace components which are consumable or relatively easy to damage.