MTA Firing Event, 2024-04-27

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by Dave Nordling, Reaction Research Society

The UCLA hybrid rocket team had a static fire event at the RRS Mojave Test Area (MTA) on Saturday, April 27, 2024, under dry and fair weather. Osvaldo Tarditti was the pyrotechnic operator in charge. I was able to assist him a few times in monitoring the progress. The UCLA team has advanced their custom grain and motor design and has improved their nitrous oxide feed system over the last few years. After having some operational challenges and resolving some leak testing issues, UCLA was able to conduct two static firings from the RRS MTA vertical test stand.

Bill Nelson and I met at the MTA to examine and assemble the propellant feed tanks and the associated valve manifolds that will be used in the static firing of the 1936 GALCIT engine replica the society built from a few archival sketches from Frank Malina and Jack Parsons.

RRS member Bill Nelson was able to repair the internal check valve inside our hydrotest pump and conduct a hydrostatic proof pressure test on both welded stainless pipe tanks we will use in firing the replica of the 1936 GALCIT liquid rocket engine prototype as part of the LACMA funded project for American Artist. Both tanks held 1.5 times the design pressure for 5 minutes without leak or bulging as expected.

Bill Nelson and I filled three of the larger gunny sacks with the sand that normally collects in certain areas around the MTA. More will be necessary to build a wall similar in size and appearance to those seen in archival photos in the Arroyo Seco in October 1936. The substantial weight of each required a motorized means of transport, but we were able to lay them next to the replica engine and vertical spring stand for a sense of scale.

Some of the other feed systems require further adjustment and design changes, but all is progressing nicely to an expected first firing with regulated nirogen gas pressurized liquid methanol and regulated gaseous oxygen propellants in the month of May 2024.

For use of the RRS MTA, contact the RRS president.

Next RRS monthly meeting will be Friday, May 10th, at the front office of the Compton/Woodley Airport at 7:30pm.

MTA Firing Event, 2024-04-14

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by Dave Nordling, Reaction Research Society

The RRS had a short firing event at the Mojave Test Area on April 14, 2024. I was the pyrotechnic operator in charge that day. Although less rain fell than at prior events, the cold spring weather at Koehn (not so) Dry Lake remained but with low winds.

Rushd Julfiker, our director of research, had built his commercial hybrid motor and mounted it for a static firing. The Contrails 38mm, 16-inch motor is the same model I’ve used in the past with some success. Dimitri Timohovich also apprenticed under me and oversaw operations including remote fill and drain operations. Although a hybrid motor has a solid fuel grain, the compressed liquid oxidizer constitutes a liquid rocket classification by CALFIRE standards.

Dimitri Timohovich had built a portable switch box which I have used in prior operations. It simplifies connections and has the features necessary to assure safe and compliant operations. Rushd managed a good fill operation and a clean ignition. Severing the nylon feedline often requires a boosted charge on top of the electric match. A small portion of aluminum/HTPB/AP composite grain is sufficient to cleanly sever the line while assuring sufficient ignition energy to start the fuel grain burning in the flow of the exiting nitrous oxide.

The basic objective of loading and static firing a hybrid motor at the RRS MTA was met. Rushd and Dimitri are both seeking their Class 1 pyro-op licenses and this experience adds to their growing base. After safing the nitrous system, the motor and mounting was removed and stored for a reloading later. Rushd intends to fire again at a later date, but with a load cell in the system to record thrust.

Dimitri and I observed the restroom facility (Bldg 12) at the MTA now has a functional shower inside and a working hot water system. We thank Osvaldo Tarditti for making several trips to the MTA to complete this amenity for our members and guests.

Dimitri and I discussed and examined the propellant feed system for the upcoming LACMA project with American Artist. Most fittings were present, but some changes to the schematic were necessary to simplify our first firing operations expected next month in May 2024.

For those interested in using the RRS MTA, contact the RRS president.

MTA Launch Event, 2024-03-30

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by Joel Cool-Panama, Secretary, Reaction Research Society

On Friday, 3/29/2024, Dimitri Timohovich was able to pick up and deliver the hydraulic equipment for the 60 foot launch rail.  Rushd Julfiker was able to come out and help him off load the equipment.  They then went up to the Butterfield’s home in Ridgecrest and picked up the shop equipment donated to the RRS.  They off-loaded that gear into the Dosa building and called it a night.

Early Saturday morning saw a fair amount of rain in the desert and the nice smooth road we used to get in and out of the MTA is once again a sloppy mess.  Even though it was slippery, all that planned to be at the MTA made it there.

With help from Dave Nordling, his friend Matt Giovannucci and Bill Nelson; Dimitri was able to put the shop equipment away into the Rockwell trailer and container 11.  The hydraulic equipment is sitting in front of container 14.

The RRS would like to thank the Butterfield family for their generous donation of the shop gear.  These items will greatly help the RRS in its future endeavors.  

 RRS member Wolfram Blume continues to make progress on his gasoline-fueled ramjet system but opted to postpone his work at the MTA to avoid the inclement weather on Saturday. He may have been the wiser man that day. The weather was very challenging on the drive into the MTA. Greater rainfall than expected throughout the morning made the western road very difficult but many made the journey. 

Dave Nordling served as pyro-op on that launch day bringing his friend, Matt Giovannucci, on what was a less than stellar day.  Cold temperatures and light rain persisted through the morning, but winds remained light and even stopped with the sun coming out that afternoon.  The road drained sufficiently to make the return drive easier but it was a mess.

New RRS members, Jeff and Chase Lang came to MTA and fired a series of six custom built H-sized solid motors. Member Jason Kobel joined them.  All seemed to perform as expected with a single ignition problem rectified by replacing the igniter and refiring that motor.  They had a model rocket they flew a few times from our 1010 rail on G-motors. After fixing a GPS tracker problem, they were able to retrieve their rocket downrange each flight.

Bill Nelson and Dave Nordling conducted fit checks of the first 1936 GALCIT rocket engine and its thrust stand replicated from the photos and scant information from JPL archives.  This was an important milestone for the LACMA funded project with American Artist.

Larger sandbags were brought to the MTA.  The Rice Hydro hydraulic hand pump owned by the society seems to have an internal seal or a check valve problem which prevented proof pressure testing of the methanol run tanks that day.  More work on the fuel and oxidizer feed and control system will take place next month.  The analog thrust measurement system consisting of a stylus and scrolling paper roll is still under design. Dimitri may have a suitable variable speed motor for driving it. We are holding schedule for a June event with the film crew.

A toilet auger and rotary snake has been put in the workspace in the toilet container which will help fix major clogging problems on the spot. Everyone has thus far been careful but it is better to have the means to unjam the plumbing on site and not need it than the alternative.

RRS President, Frank Miuccio, found a small roll-top desk for the Office Container 14, but will bring it to the MTA later.

Next month’s meeting will be at the gymnasium of the Mary Star High School in San Pedro on Friday, April 12th, which is the day before the 2024 RRS Symposium held at the same location.