Failure of 2400 lbs thrust rocket motor in flight at Balls 2005

Flight test of a 6 inch diameter 2400 lbs thrust solid rocket motor. Rocket weight at takeoff = 145 lbs. Motor was designed for a two stage 220 lbs rocket, but rocket was not ready in time and a lighter weight single stage airframe was substituted. As a result, the thrust to weight ratio was 16 to 1 (too high) instead of a more sane 10 to 1. Recovered flight data indicated acceleration exceeded 40 g's. Propellant grains collapsed under the high acceleration causing the chamber pressure to exceed the max design pressure of the motor case. The forward closure failed, ejecting the forward bulkhead and separating the airframe. The rocket tumbled end over end at ~Mach 2, and the resulting aerodynamic loads shredded it into pieces which fall and impact the desert. Balls Experimental Rocket Launch Black Rock Desert Nevada Sept. 19, 2005

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Solid
• Rocket
• Motor
• Failure
• Crash
• Balls
• Experimental
• Launch
• Black
• Rock
• Desert
• Nevada
• fail

[kobasica]

you know your rocket kicks ass when your grains collapse under pressure

[Mysticlambo]

LMAO "theres more shit cumin in watch out, we got fins"... haha

that sucks tho...so what this was like a P or an O motor?

[DrJRS1]

@Hodja60 I was out on the playa helping with another big project when this took off--a nose cone weighing several pounds came in at terminal velocity and left an impact crater about 20' from where I was standing. Had it hit one of us, would have been history. Pieces falling fast can't always be seen especially when directly above you. Appreciate seeing this posted as I'd nearly forgotten this epic flight.

[TheJascal]

Great camera work :)

[kffive]

Next time build it from an Anvil, damn.

[Yankeeprepperasshat]

@kobasica how would pressure collapse a grain?

[Hodja60]

lol cool explosion. those falling debris could take someone out if they're unlucky and not looking out for it

[SSRenegade151]

lol! That is epic...it sounds like a freaking jet.



[wr433]

What type of propellant was used for this rocket?