mhanna
Well-Known Member
A NASA SLI team I am working with is using an Aerotech K1103-X motors for their entry. 1st flight was perfect, no motor issues. The 2nd flight not so much, we had a blow-bye of the smoke grain causing the rocket to separate early. Here are the particulars:
- fuel grains were bonded in place with the suggested Elmers glue.
- there is no damage to the motor tube, seal disk, rear closure, and even the phenolic liner is fine.
- the forward closure whole to ignite the black powder is now about 1/2" in diameter. there was no black powder in the motor as they are using full dual deploy.
- the cardboard delay element liner is burned in several places, the delay liner o-ring looks fine, the forward rubber washer is there but burned much smaller in size now.
- the rocket lifted between 500' - 1000' then split apart.
- the only thing that wasn't done was a "breather" hole in the igniter holder. Could this have caused it to over-pressurize at ignition and blow past the smoke grain immediately?