COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado USA — Apogee Components has released the new RS-PRO rocket simulation software which allows aerospace researchers to predict the performance of suborbital rockets flying to the edge of space (altitudes up to 392 miles) and speeds up to ten times the speed of sound (Mach 10).

Company president, Tim Van Milligan said, "The RS-PRO software is necessary because it predicts the rocket's trajectory going up, and where the wind might push it when it comes back down to the ground. Without this information, the researcher won't get permission to launch from government officials like the Federal Avaiation Administration."

RS-PRO is an upgrade to Apogee's other software, "RockSim." The major difference is that RS-PRO has a sophisticated 6 Degree-Of-Freedom flight simulator that allows the rocket's position be calculated in relation to the rotating, spherical earth. With it, the researcher can get a visual representation of the trajectory of the rocket from lift-off to touchdown. The software also allows the researcher to insert up to 18 different variables into the launch, such as varying wind speed and shifting wind direction. By doing this, a probable landing zone can be predicted. This landing area can be cleared of spectators, so that a safer launch can be ensured.

One of the unique features of the software is that it allows rockets to be simulated with an initial velocity vector and altitude, such as being launched by an aircraft. This makes it useful for a wide variety of research and military applications. Because of this, RS-PRO is only available to USA citizens.

Besides providing flight simulations, the new software also incorporates RockSim's easy-to-use rocket design interface. By marrying the simulator to the design interface, the researcher can quickly make the necessary modifications to the rocket create the optimum configuration that meets the objectives of the mission. That saves tremendous amounts of time, and prevents costly modifications that may be necessary to the actual vehicle.

RS-PRO is available for both Windows® and Macintosh® computers, and can read all standard RockSim design files.

For more information about RS-PRO, visit the Apogee Components web site at: http://www.ApogeeRockets.com/RS-PRO.asp

Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Macintosh® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

06-08-2007 10:33 PM  #1
StuBarrett Certified Level Eleven   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 116	Design interface I hope there is a mode where I don't have to specify every frigging piece. Let me specify the CD, weight, diameter, nosecone shape and motor characteristics, and be done with it!! I have yet to purchase RocSim since it is so anal about having to tediously design your rocket before you run a simple simulation!! Stu

06-09-2007 09:20 AM  #2
crontab Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 204	Quote: I have yet to purchase RocSim since it is so anal about having to tediously design your rocket before you run a simple simulation!! That was one of the beautiful things about wRASP. Just a few pieces of data and you were in the ballpark. I too don't use RockSim because of this. I want to spend my time building a flying rockets, not running simulation programs.

06-10-2007 10:56 AM  #3
GHuber Certified Level One   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 11	From the known issues with the software: RS-PRO seems to run M<1 base drag around 0.06, reducing total Ca by ~0.1 (~20%). The forebody subsonic drag also seems to run a little low and indifferent to nose shapes, producing 0.19 to 0.29 for both streamlined (0.2) and ugly fuze/warhead nose shapes I've documented around 0.4 to 0.45 or so. The net effect, preliminarily, seems to be about a 50% overestimation of trajectory range.

06-10-2007 03:54 PM  #4
crontab Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 204	Quote: The net effect, preliminarily, seems to be about a 50% overestimation of trajectory range. Wow! This qualifies it for use by the ATF!

07-29-2007 03:04 AM  #5
K2S New Member   Joined: May 2007 Posts: 3	Looks to be pretty good, I have Rocksim 8, find it real good. Quote: I hope there is a mode where I don't have to specify every frigging piece. Let me specify the CD, weight, diameter, nosecone shape and motor characteristics, and be done with it!! This feature would be real good, get a quick estimate of what that would achieve and then hit the disign process to see how it will work out. Pity RS-PRO is only avaliable in the states though, would serve my purpose well for any high altitude flights as my countries mainland isn't to large you could see where it might land and in what direction you would have to launch. Iain --------------- www.kiwi2space.co.nz

07-29-2007 01:09 PM  #6
Steve_Shannon When in doubt, ask Keenan   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1978	Quote: I hope there is a mode where I don't have to specify every frigging piece. Let me specify the CD, weight, diameter, nosecone shape and motor characteristics, and be done with it!! I have yet to purchase RocSim since it is so anal about having to tediously design your rocket before you run a simple simulation!! Stu If I understand your meaning correctly, this can be done in RockSim. Specify a body tube and a nose cone. Be sure and tell it that the body tube is a motor mount tube (disregard the size difference). Add fins. Override the CG, CP, CD, and mass to be what you have. When you select the motor be sure to check the box that allows motors smaller than the MMT. Select the motor and launch. You don't have to add centering rings, couplers, parachutes, etc. to the simulation. It may not be as fast or easy as other programs to use it this way, but it should at least give you sort of close altitude projections.

07-29-2007 06:07 PM  #7
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 3189	Many, many people were spoiled with wRASP... myself included.

07-31-2007 12:40 PM  #8
DumasBro2 I Felta Thi Frat Boy   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 235	Still use it. Sometimes less is more.

07-31-2007 01:22 PM  #9
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 3189	Quote: Still use it. Sometimes less is more. Amen, brother!!!