The Poll can be viewed at:
http://www.wra2.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2068
Proposed changes for discussion will be listed in yellow
There should be separate divisions for reinforced and unreinforced rockets. The unreinforced class should allow lower cost "peak" altimeters. The rockets shall be single stage for either division.
I. WRA2 Altitude Challenge General Design Parameters
I. WRA2 Pop Bottle World Record General Design Parameters
- Division 1 (unreinforced): Rocket must be constructed using an unmodified pop bottle with a volume of no more than 2.0 liters
- Division 2 (reinforced): Rocket must be constructed using an pop bottle with a volume of no more than 2.0 liters but may be reinforced. The bottle must remain (bottle shaped rockets constructed without the bottle inside will not be allowed)
- Rocket must use Water as its primary reaction mass.
- Rocket mass cannot exceed 1,500 grams. This is the total dry weight of all flying components in a flight ready condition including the pressure vessel, fins, nosecone, payload bay, camera, altimeter, flight computer, deployment system, batteries, and nozzle.(no reaction mass)
- Water Rocket must use compressed ambient atmospheric air at no more then 200 PSI (13.79 Bar) as its energy. Other gasses have much higher compression ratios and there needs to be a baseline so the record is fair to all. (see section II for special rules regarding bottled air).
- Water Rocket must use compressed ambient atmospheric air as its energy. Other gasses have much higher compression ratios and there needs to be a baseline so the record is fair to all. (see section II for special rules regarding bottled air).
- Pressure Vessel and Fuselage of Rocket must be constructed from lightweight nonmetallic materials.
- Rocket must be launched from a stationary position on a fixed launcher. (Slingshots,trebuchets, catapults, cannons, and all other forms of launcher boost assist are forbidden). Launch tubes are allowed as long as the internal pressure of the rocket is the only supply of energy.
- Rocket must be completely scratch-built using materials which are not manufactured for model rocket parts. (with the exception of the Camera and Altimeter) Raiding hobby shops for nosecones, or fins, or any other pre-manufactured items is prohibited. (manufactured items that are not designed for rocketry such as wind up toys are allowed)
- Rocket must be completely scratch-built using materials which are not manufactured for model rocket parts. (with the exception of the Bottle, Camera and Altimeter) Raiding hobby shops for nosecones, or fins, or any other pre-manufactured items is prohibited. (manufactured items that are not designed for rocketry such as wind up toys are allowed)
- Rocket must carry onboard a commercially produced altimeter to document the maximum altitude of the flight. Ground based and/or timing based altitude measurements are too error prone and are unacceptable.
- Flight must be recorded by ground-based video to validate flight duration and recovery. It is required proof the flight actually happened. (if using bottled air is used then the 10 minute max pressure hold must be shown).
- Entire flight including apogee must be photographed by an onboard video camera. If using a peak altimeter then the ground video will also show the display of the altimeter as the rocket is recovered following each flight.
- For the pop bottle world record division 1 (un-reinforced) low cost "peak" altimeters will be allowed.
- For the pop bottle world record division 2 (reinforced) logging altimeters will be required.
- Record Altitude is calculated as the average of the two highest flights the rocket achieves within a 2-hour period (note: If using a peak altitude altimeter the average will be for 3 flights in 3 hours). This prevents dumb luck, the “perfect storm” scenario or false readings from giving a false record. Results must be repeatable!
Division 1 will be allowed the use of "peak" altimeters
This criteria was inspired by high profile competitions such as the Ansari X-Prize.
- The same rocket must be used for all averaged flights. The only portions of the rocket which can be replaced are expendable or consumable items. (batteries, tape, deployment chemicals, water, etc..) Items which are damaged in any record attempt must be repaired and reused. Any competing rocket must be sturdy enough to survive multiple launches and the recovery system must be robust enough to prevent damage. “Expendable” rockets are disallowed from competing.
- Only bottled atmospheric air is allowed. No exotic gasses, cryogenics or combustibles.
- Tanks must be certified. (copies of tank certifications will be provided and filling station receipt).
- All local laws must be complied with for handling pressurized tanks as well as any certifications that the operator may need will also be provided upon a record submission.
- To prevent "stomp rockets" the rocket must remain pressurized to full launch pressure (200PSI or 13.79bar) for a period of no less then ten (10) minuets. (The ground view camera will show both the tank and rocket on the launcher during this 10 minute period).
- Bottled air pressure source must be located at the minimum safe distance of 50 Feet (15 meters) from the launcher (this allows the bottle air pressure source to be safely controlled in the event of an emergency).
- All WRA2 Water Rocket Safety Rules must be followed.
- All launched parts of rocket which travel over 6 meters (20 feet) in altitude must have a recovery system which limits their descent rate at time of touchdown at ground level to a maximum velocity of 10 meters/second (33 feet per second) This includes all pieces which separate or are shed off in flight. Fast falling rockets, boosters, debris, or rocket parts can be very dangerous. Recovery system malfunctions for any part will disallow any record flights.
- Pressure vessel must be entirely fabricated by the rocket builder.
- Division 1 will require an unmodified pop bottle with a maximum volume of 2.0 liters
- Pressure Vessel cannot be constructed using any portion of an existing high pressure enclosure. (i.e. no Paintball tanks, CO2 tanks, SCUBA tanks, Propane Tanks, etc.). The object is to engineer and build your rocket yourself.
- Pressure Vessel and all external parts of the rocket may not be fabricated from metal. (see the WRA2 water rocket safety rules).
- Reaction Mass must be primarily ordinary tap water.
- Thrust must come from expelling reaction mass, not from air discharge. That would be considered an Air Cannon projectile.
- Water Reaction Mass must fill a minimum of 20% of the volume of the Pressure Vessel. Token amounts of water added in an attempt to qualify an air cannon projectile as a water rocket are not allowed.
- All record claims must be filed to the WRA2 Contest Submissions for public review.
Items required:
· Onboard video for all submitted flights
· Ground videos for all submitted flights (including altimeter display upon recovery if using a peak altitude altimeter)
· Raw altimeter data for both submitted flights (if using a logging altimeter)
· Time and date for each flight
· If using bottled air: copies of the tank and operator certifications
- Optional Items:
· Design drawings
· Detailed still photos
· Simulator data
Maximum file size 20MB per file
