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Workshops will be held from time to time for paid up NZRA members. Some of the topics could include:
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Summary of the NZRA talk by Peter Beck: 17 October 2009 The Atea (Maori for 'space') rocket current being developed by Rocket Lab located in Parnell, Auckland is aiming for a launch this mid-November from Great Mercury Island off the Coromandel Penninsula. There is a 6 day launch window and it is hoped to have the launch take place on the first day, weather permitting (up to 10 knot winds are permitted). The two-stage 6 metre long carbon fibre rocket is expected to reach 100km and both the booster and second stage will come down by parachute in the ocean. Floatation devices will keep them on top of the water until they can be picked up by boat. The Atea can carry a payload of 2kg and will be used by reseachers around the globe who wish to carry out scientific experiments at the edge of space. The maximum velocity is approximately mach 5.2 after a total burn time of 18 - 20 seconds. The thrust of the booster is 80,000 - 100,000 N/s coming from a specially designed hybrid motor using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) as an oxidizer. Since it is nowadays virtually impossible for foreigners to get rocket componentry from US suppliers, virtually everything on the Atea except the parachutes had to be developed from scratch using no. 8 wire ingenuity. The motor, the airframe, nosecone ablative coating, avionics... Even the Dell laptop that Peter was using took a month of clearance when the address it was delivered to was found to be a rocket company. |
Peter Beck soaring high at the Auckland Observatory Every single component on the Atea has been tested both physically and by using mathematical modelling. There have been shake tests, extreme temperature tests, chemical tests, electronic tests, and tests of tests. Nothing has been left to chance and even the ropes on the parachutes have been tested to see if they meet their stated specifications - which is not always the case. This is a good lesson for all of us rocketeers. Peter related his developing interest in rocketry and he even produced a rocket powered motorcycle. He went to the USA to gain rocket knowledge and equipment but was not enthusiastically received everywhere he went. Once the Atea proves itself a successful launch vehicle, some of these same rocket companies may be purchasing Peter's rocket back from him and he'll have the last laugh and it won't be due to the nitrous oxide. A video of the talk is also in preparation. |
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