Testing Recovery Systems for a Liquid Rocket (With a satisfying conclusion)

September 16, 2023
Space Enterprise at Berkeley is starting to pick up speed again with the new semester. They have a long list of objectives to accomplish. While one part of the team focuses on testing the vertical stacked liquid bipropellant rocket, another part focuses on testing the recovery system on a subscale vehicle. With a commercial off-the-shelf motor, it's almost certain to achieve reliable and repeatable results.

[@mojaverockets]

Something I've been advocating for to liquid teams I work with, during development of your liquid or hybrid motor, the recovery team needs to build out the actual top part of the rocket that will be used for the recovery and flight test it on an inexpensive solid motor...the full scale real deal. th-cam.com/video/jWspWbTCXbM/w-d-xo.html
Launching a subscale or ground testing is better than no testing but during the project motor development there is plenty of time for the recovery team (responsible for 50% of the flight) to build out and flight test the actual avionics, nosecone, and chutes to be used. Similar to what NASA did for Apollo with Little Joe II .
This UCLA team came to me about launching the liquid bi-prop the next month and at my suggestion, built this lower section and fins that we flew 10 days later on the solid motor. Their later liquid launch was successful with perfect recovery and have the altitude record for the FAR Dollar per Foot Challenge.

[@ar5000]

Does that qualify as a propulsive landing?

[@Nolantrees]

Frankie squared

[@BigDickMark]

Damn, sorry about that. Any chance on a refund from Aerotech? Was the casing okay?

[@DerekHonkawa]

It looked like it just blew out the nozzle. The grain was extinguished quickly, and the Berkeley Team made sure to prepare for a proper RMA with Aerotech as soon as it happened, rather than monkey around with the grain too much. Case is safe.