Colleen’s Flight Log

Zephyr on an Aerotech H100W motor. Simulated to 1,391 ft. No electronics; motor ejection with parachute.

Loc IV X2 with Aerotech I140W. Simulated (Rocksim) to about 1,600 ft. No electronics; motor ejection with parachute.

Main and drogue deployed. The center coupler came loose and dropped to the ground. The nosecone came down in the parking lot under its parachute and the booster came down under the drogue in a field close by. Altitude GPS 9,903 ft; altimeter 9,915 ft; inertial navigation 9,793 ft. Max vertical velocity (GPS) 1,077 ft/s (734 mph); max velocity (altimeter) 1,257.8 ft/s (858 mph, above Mach 1). Probable cause: the center bolt spun itself loose, so the center section separated and each end landed under its own chute.

The drogue deployed and the main did not. The main parachute altimeters were Blue Jay+, and their failure to deploy caused the crash. They were on at the pad with the correct settings, and the batteries were still attached when I took the rocket apart after landing. The rocket came down about 2 miles away in a field and was retrieved with the help of the landowner. Fin fillets were cracked on 2 fins but repairable; the 3D-printed nosecone av-bay was cracked beyond repair. To swap the Blue Jays for Blue Ravens I designed a larger av-bay. Altitude (altimeter) 10,806 ft; inertial navigation 11,445 ft; max vertical velocity (GPS) 1,164 ft/s (797 mph, above Mach 1); max velocity (altimeter) 1,033 ft/s (704 mph).

The Blue Jay+ data file for the main called itself a Blue Raven. It had Main as the deploy charge and the battery at 4.2 V, so it had the right settings and enough power, but nothing fired. It recorded a start time of 35.12 and a landing time of 37:55.9, so it ran for the whole flight. On inspection all wires were connected and tight. Probable cause: failure of the Blue Ravens to fire a charge.

Motor H219T-6. Weight with motor 3.457 lb; 5 oz added in the nosecone (stones and epoxy). Featherweight GPS taped to the Kevlar cord on the nosecone. Friction-fit nose cone with motor-eject parachute. Simulated (Rocksim) altitude about 4,000 ft; came down close to the launch site.

Second flight on an H100-6, simulated (Rocksim) to about 1,662 ft. Calm winds around 50 degrees, cloudy.

Motor L2200G-6, minimum diameter with dual deployment. Reached 31,863.5 ft ASL, 24,077.5 ft AGL. Vertical velocity 1,140 ft/s; Mach 1.0842 (aerospaceweb.org atmosphere calculator). Successful landing 3.92 miles from the launch site.

Premature deployment at the pad. Either memory from earlier simulation testing triggered a simulation, or the unit came on while traveling to the pad and took being stood upright as a launch. It was the end of the day, so there was no time to relaunch.

Airfest 2025, 8/28/2025 at 12:21 PM: 3,325 ft ASL or 2,276 ft AGL at 650 ft/s (443 mph). Main deployed at 499 ft; descent 16 ft/s.

Motor H135W-0. The aft section has 2 Blue Jay+ in the e-bay; the nosecone has a mini 38 mm e-bay with a Blue Raven, a 38 mm Blue Jay+ and a Featherweight GPS.

Airfest 2025, 8/29/2025 at 3:32 PM: 4,807 ft ASL or 3,726 ft AGL at 410 ft/s (280 mph). Main deployed at 698 ft.

Flight 1 at 12:52 PM (H550ST): 3,999 ft ASL or 2,840 ft AGL at 545 ft/s (372 mph).

Flight 2 at 2:50 PM (H100): 2,913 ft ASL or 1,784 ft AGL at 332 ft/s (226 mph).

Flight 3 at 5:55 PM (J250): lost GPS, later found the rocket; no data; nosecone destroyed.

BALLS 2025 with a new replacement nosecone on an L1000 DMS (simulated 15,402 ft): 14,827 ft AGL from a pad altitude of 3,912 ft. The backup altimeter fired apogee and not main. Drogue descent rate 33.9 ft/s (22 mph). Good landing, no damage.

K550W, estimated altitude 7,000 ft. Airfest 2025, 8/31/2025 at 2:35 PM: 7,377 ft ASL or 6,273 ft AGL. Max velocity 754 ft/s (514 mph). Lost GPS at takeoff, but the chutes deployed and the rocket was recovered unhurt: the tracker fell from the nosecone into the main body and was shielded by the carbon fiber. Apogee charge fired at 6,100 ft AGL; main charge at 870 ft; descent 26 ft/s.

J270W (plugged), Mack CO, 11/23/2025, 4,772 ft elevation, 55 degrees, low wind and cloudy. Estimated (Rocksim) 2,516 ft. Apogee fired at 2,472 ft, main at 620 ft. Drogue descent 65 ft/s, main 21 ft/s. Thrust tilt efficiency 98%. Max velocity 393.45 ft/s (268 mph).