Jeff Taylor and Curt Newport ready to launch Proteus 6.

BLACK ROCK DESERT, Nevada USA — Curt Newport and Jeff Taylor successfully launched and recovered the "Proteus 6" rocket at the Tripoli Rocketry Association's experimental rocket launch.  Upon ignition, the fourteen foot tall rocket, weighing 170 pounds, accelerated to a velocity over 3000 feet per second, nearly three times the speed of sound. 

The solid propellant motor burned out at approximately 16,000 feet above the ground and Proteus 6 then coasted to an apogee over 70,000 feet (~14 miles up). 

At apogee a parachute deployed allowing the rocket to descend to a landing 2.6 miles from the launch point.

The rocket was supersonic for more than 30 seconds and the entire flight from liftoff to touchdown lasted a little less than nine minutes.

Proteus 6 was recovered intact and can be flown again. 

"We hit a home run here," said Newport and Taylor. "The result exceeded our boldest hopes!"

Ready for another round.

"There is a lot of flight data to examine," reports Taylor, "We have accelerometer, barometric pressure, and GPS data.  At first look there are indications that apogee may have been 88,000 feet or higher, but we won’t be sure until all the data is processed.  After we have gone through it, we will publish all of the flight data and our conclusions."

"The design, fabrication, testing, and launch of Proteus 6 was 18 months of hard work," said Newport, "I'd like to thank Jeff for his fantastic rocket motor and for his contributions to the airframe design and fabrication. Thanks also go to the MDRA rocketry club for providing the launch pad and other assistance, to the Mavericks club for last minute equipment loans, and to the AHPRA club for hosting the event.  I could not have done it without these dedicated people and the many others who make up the amateur rocket community."

Pictures and details will be posted at http://www.lokiresearch.com/.

10-01-2008 05:44 PM  #1
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1298	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Congrats and thank you for properly calling it Amateur Rocketry! I hope you publish the internal grain geometry, propellant burning rate, and density data, as part of your report so budding rocket scientists can see some of the more useful methods used. Just tech Jerry

10-02-2008 05:49 AM  #2
DAllen Certified Level Two   Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 51	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock What absolutely blows me away is the ridiculous concept that the motor burned out at 3 miles up and proceeded to coast another 11 miles straight up. What an amazing project. It would be really cool if there were a build thread or something we could check out. I saw the Loki link but I was hoping for a bit more detail if it's available. -DAllen

10-02-2008 07:25 AM  #3
Johnnie Certified TRA Level III   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Excellent work...great job, looking forward to final reports! Johnnie

10-02-2008 08:17 AM  #4
H_rocket Village Idiot   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 598	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: What absolutely blows me away is the ridiculous concept that the motor burned out at 3 miles up and proceeded to coast another 11 miles straight up. Heck I've never had a rocket go three miles up! Much less burn out and coast another 11 miles Bravo!

10-02-2008 08:54 AM  #5
Loki Manufacturer   Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 18	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: It would be really cool if there were a build thread or something we could check out. I saw the Loki link but I was hoping for a bit more detail if it's available. -DAllen Curt and I are already working on a project report that will include construction details and flight data. We'll submit it to one of the rocket mags.

10-02-2008 08:57 AM  #6
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1298	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock I especially liked the fact it was entirely reuseable (nice soft dirt to land on) and was recovered "only" 2.6 miles away. I have had ballistically recovered rockets land farther away than that which were launched "nearly vertical". Sensational job guys! Just Jerry

10-02-2008 09:38 AM  #7
WillCarney Certified Level Three   Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 64	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: Curt and I are already working on a project report that will include construction details and flight data. We'll submit it to one of the rocket mags. Congrats on the launch to both of you. I was impressed especially that the rocket was recovered intact and could fly again. Not many fly that high and can claim that, cool. I would put a live video camera in it for the next flight if you do one. Did you have an on board camera? I tried to post to the TRA list but can't right now because of the e-mail problems here at IWU. I can read the TRA list but not reply right now. Looking forward to the details of the flight. William

10-02-2008 11:45 AM  #8
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4014	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: We'll submit it to one of the rocket mags. Maybe even an "online" mag? I can assure of a higher circulation than all of them combined.

10-02-2008 12:06 PM  #9
gregm The BCS is total BS!!!!!!   Joined: May 2007 Posts: 158	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: Maybe even an "online" mag? Yes please!! Not everyone subscribes to the printed mags.

10-04-2008 07:17 PM  #10
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1298	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Gentlemen. Rocketry Planet "IS" an online magazine in every respect right now. No waiting. Just Jerry Former physical magazine publisher.

10-09-2008 12:34 PM  #11
R2K Certified Level Three   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 273	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock I have not been reading rocketry mags since oh say hmm 2003? I am totally online, which means free.

10-09-2008 12:38 PM  #12
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1298	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: I have not been reading rocketry mags since oh say hmm 2003? I am totally online, which means free. Free to view, but it is advertiser supported, so please buy stuff from vendors who advertise here. If there are ever specials offered, support them as well. Just Jerry

10-09-2008 01:29 PM  #13
UncleVanya If pigs had fins...   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 3640	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: I am totally online, which means free. Not to confuse things but since you contribute content this is not entirely free - you spend time and effort making content here - which helps attract (or repel ) some of the other users who may or may not also contribute the content that you are here to view. Symbiosis...

10-10-2008 04:13 PM  #14
R2K Certified Level Three   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 273	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Yeah my forum posts are going to bring people in droves... I will gladly support this page. I do link to it from my blog, but I suspect that only means a few clicks per day.

10-10-2008 05:17 PM  #15
UncleVanya If pigs had fins...   Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 3640	Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock Quote: Yeah my forum posts are going to bring people in droves... Actually I was thinking about the fact that people pay a lot for "free" things. They give up information, or spend time, or otherwise pay in non-monetary ways for all sorts of "free" stuff. Oh and never underestimate your posts - you may have a fan or two - you never know!