Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock

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2008 Archived News by Loki Research

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

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/.

Reader comments:

#1 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

Just Jerry on 10-01-2008 05:44 PM

#2 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

DAllen on 10-02-2008 05:49 AM

#3 Re: Article: Proteus 6 exceeds 70,000 feet at Black Rock

Excellent work...great job, looking forward to final reports!

Johnnie

Johnnie on 10-02-2008 07:25 AM

#4 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!

H_rocket on 10-02-2008 08:17 AM

#5 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.

Loki on 10-02-2008 08:54 AM

#6 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

Just Jerry on 10-02-2008 08:57 AM

#7 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

WillCarney on 10-02-2008 09:38 AM

#8 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?