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 ARVADA, Colorado USA — Foothills cadets test launched their 7', 3" tall rocket on March 10, 2007. The wind was slightly blowing at the Arvada Associated Modelers Field in Arvada and the sun was tucked quietly behind the clouds as the cadets made the final adjustments prior to the first "test" launch.
The egg was gently tucked into the nose cone, padded with our secret padding and the altimeter was placed in the holding device. As the G-80 rocket motor was introduced to the mount and the igniter was carefully inserted into the exhaust port, the cadets grew anxious. The ignition wires were connected to the igniter and the area around the rocket was cleared of people. As the News 2 camera sat quietly under the rocket, "FIRE IN THE HOLE" was sounded. Count down, 3-2-1, the rocket lifted off and made a great take off. As the rocket reached speed and gained altitude it started to lose the angle of attack for max altitude. The motor expired and was done burning, the parachute ejection charge fired and to their dismay, no parachute came out. Now they waited, as the rocket "completely intact" started its journey back to earth from just under 600 Feet. The rocket "now an unguided projectile" nosed over, and started plummeting to earth gaining speed as it fell. Shortly before nose diving into the rocky surface that makes up the area we use, the rocket flattened out and made a hard but semi safe landing about 150 yards from the launch pad as it belly flopped onto the only rocks pile around. Upon retrieving the rocket the cadets noticed numerous dings and breaks in the fuselage. On to our little rocket and repairing the large one. The little rocket "Stumpy" was launched 3 times and made three perfect flight as the cadets repaired the damage to the large rocket. Once the large rocket was repaired and prepared for its second flight it was placed on the 5 foot launch rod and was sent back into the air. Again, malfunction and heartbreak. The parachute failed to deploy and the rocket again made a perfect 10 belly flop as it landed back on the ground. As it hit the ground, everyone could see it break in two pieces and they knew the day was done. Back to the drawing board to design a new rocket and build it at the Littleton HobbyTown USA for the next week Sunday test launches. The cadets have not reserved their fate yet, as the commander is a Marine and will NOT let them give up with 4 weeks to go before the deadline. "These cadets are second to none" the Commander, Captain Michael Lawson CAP, a former Marine Sergeant says. "They will complete, test and qualify with another rocket before the 9 April deadline". Keep an eye on our progress in Yourhub.com. The cadets would like to say thank you to News 2 for covering their story as it was aired on Saturday nights news at 9pm. If you are interested in helping these cadets make it to Virginia, you can come to Hobby Town USA in Littleton and see what we are doing, make a tax deductible donation to Foothills Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol (PO Box 5161 Golden CO 80401) or look us up online at www.cap.gov then click on - join - Find unit -and enter Lakewood. To find out more about Team America Rocketry Challenge you can go to www.nar.org and click on "Team America". Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer, non-profit organization operating as an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, performing "Missions For America" with approximately 60,000 members nationwide. Civil Air Patrol is responsible for 95% of all inland search and rescue missions in the United States. Our primary missions are "Emergency Services", "Cadet Programs" and "Aerospace Education". Federal, state and local authorities rely on CAP's volunteer pilots and ground personnel to provide search and rescue assistance, disaster relief, homeland security, counter-drug operations and cadet training. Copyright 2007, YourHub.com |
