From: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 22:02:28 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: (Fwd) Re: **"OuR" Project press release** (fwd)
Message-ID: <199608281137.GAA08101@einstein>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text



Hi all,


I thought I would forward this so those less connected might know of amateur
space technology. With a factor of 5 increase in altitude these folks will
be putting things in LEO. My guess, 3-5 years.


Forwarded message:
> From postmaster@ddg.com Tue Aug 27 23:25:59 1996
> Message-Id: <199608280351.WAA21839@oak.zilker.net>
> Comments: Authenticated sender is <stu@mail.zilker.net>
> From: "Stu Barrett" <stu@zilker.net>
> Organization: Personal Business
> To: hct@ddg.com
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> Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 22:53:36 -6
> Subject: (Fwd) Re: **"OuR" Project press release**
> Priority: normal
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> 
> Pulled this off of the net.  The was even better than SkyeDance IV ;-)
> 
> ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
> 
> Paul Robinson & Ken Mizoi wrote:
> > 
> > To All Fellow Rocketeers:
> > 
> >         The "OuR" project was launched Friday, August 16th, 1996 at 9:05 PST.
> > All available flight data is still being analyzed so any information
> > presented is preliminary and is provided for the courtesy of all those
> > who have supported the "OuR" team.
> > 
> >         First, the principal members of the "OuR" team are, in alphabetical
> > order, Frank Kosdon, Phil Prior, Paul Robinson, and Jim Rosson.  These
> > dedicated souls spent two years of dedicated research and effort, not
> > to mention tens of thousands of dollars, to build and fly the "OuR"
> > project.
> > 
> >         The R motor is a proprietary engine design with the propellant
> > provided by Frank Kosdon.  It was 10.5" in diameter and contained
> > almost 300 pounds of propellant, including a 21 pound, full diameter
> > delay "cake" for tracking.  It was calculated to burn for 10.5
> > seconds, and provide 285,000 Newtons of total impulse.  Yes, in
> > rocketeer terms an R27,000!
> > 
> >         The airframe was 21 feet long, with a 5 to 1 conical nose.  The gross
> > launch mass was about 700 pounds.  On board was a ten watt video
> > downlink, provided by Jon Dunbar, a Trimble GPS, video overlay and
> > associated electronics, provided by Bob Rau, and various other backup
> > electronics.  Both main and drouge parachutes were provided by Bob
> > Stroud.
> > 
> >         The rocket was launched in almost no winds, pointing a few degrees
> > away from the town of Gerlach, NV for safety reasons.  The rocket flew
> > perfectly straight and the motor functioned flawlessly with a total
> > activity time around 12 to 14 seconds.  The rocket coasted for about
> > 80 seconds, slightly more than calculated, into the ozone layer.  The
> > altitude simulations pointed to an expected altitude of just under
> > 100,000 feet.  With the increased activity time and increased coast
> > time, the altitude most likely exceeded 100,000 feet.
> > 
> >         One highlight of this flight was the video data transmitted back to
> > earth from approximately twenty miles in the sky.  What was seen was a
> > clear outline of the entire Black Rock Dessert and the surrounding
> > terrain, the curvature of the earth, and the great blackness of the
> > space.
> > 
> >         Higher altitudes are accessible by smaller rockets, but the intent of
> > this project was to successfully build and fire a "large" rocket
> > motor.  Previously, only commercial enterprises have had success with
> > motors of over four inches in diameter and the results of last year's
> > BALLS launch support this presumption.  Furthermore, the instruments
> > carried aloft simply would not fit in say a 54mm "altitude optimized"
> > motor.
> > 
> >         Unfortunately, the rocket failed to deploy its recovery systems and
> > accelerated to over Mach 1 and impacted into the sand dunes several
> > miles away.  There was a loud sonic boom heard by all that literally
> > shook the earth.  In fact, instead of the nominal "hole and fin slits"
> > seen in previous impacts, there was a twenty foot diameter area with
> > large chunks of sheared earth as if a high energy charge had been
> > detonated under the ground.  The rocket was not recovered, but several
> > pieces of metal, fiberglass, and burnt Nomex were found indicating the
> > ejection charges did in fact fire.
> > 
> >         As more data is analyzed, and more hard facts are gathered, more
> > information will follow.  Furthermore, the rights to the video are in
> > the negotiation stage with the various film crews present, but do
> > expect a very detailed video from Earl Cagle of Point 39 Productions.
> > 
> >         Once again, the "OuR" Project members wish to express sincere thanks
> > to all those who listened, donated, and gave their support who were
> > not specifically named.  This project would not have flown if were not
> > for the "believers" and the tremendous team spirit.  Only they know
> > the sweat and the number of hours it takes to fly such a rocket.
> > 
> >                                                         Members of the "OuR" Team
> 
> -----------------
> Stu Barrett
> e-mail: stu@zilker.net
> Phone: 512-255-6052
> 
> "Out the transceiver, down the coax, through the router, down the
> fiber, off another router, down the T1, past the firewall.....nothing
> but Net."
>