Today it's pouring down here and the forecast is not good for the next two weeks. But yesterday we managed to use the last opportunity weather presented to us.The result was not as good as we'd like to have.
MkIII was fully ready for the test. The launch pressure was set to 250 psi based on the pump manometer. However, the lift-off was very sluggish and it was clear from the very first moment that something was not going in accordance with our plans.The rocket reached an altitude of about 20 meters and then dropped back turning in the process nose down. In fact the turning nose down is a good indication of a very stable aerodynamics. Another indication of the same was a very stable lift-off despite of a low speed (about 10m/s). Parachute deployed after 4 seconds as set, but it was too late for the safe recovery.
On-site assessment showed:
* No damage to the motor and fins
* Very little damage to the nose cone
* Little damage to the top of the payload module.
* Serious damage to the bottom section of the payload module at the fix points due to the motor sliding down at the moment of the impact.
* Complete distraction of the deployment system's chassis. Later analysis has shown that this is not due to the chassis sliding forward as we initially thought, but due to displacement of the motor
The payload module may be reused again, but a new chassis for electronics and deployment system is needed.
Further analysis of the flight results indicates that the sluggish lift-off was more likely caused by a low pressure wrongly indicated as 250 psi by the pump monometer. All data is consistent with pressure around 70...80 psi, which is obviously not sufficient. We are investigating the issue, but at the moment the preliminary conclusion is not not very optimistic: we need a new pump
. This is probably the most serious issue we are facing right now. It sets us back quite a lot.
The test revealed another issue. A charger we use to charge a 12V battery powering the pump is not working properly if at all. Now we have to address this problem as well.
As a concession there is a positive moment: we've found a good launch site not far from our base. It's about 500x500 meters in size, but with some trees in the centre. Depending upon a wind direction it's possible to find about 300 meters of clear range. Apart from dog-walkers and occasional riders it's a perfect location.
We are back to square one. Not quite, but very close to that.