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Civilian Space Launch Imminent

Posted by timothy on from the when-can-we-honeymoon-on-the-moon dept.

rossjudson writes: "Looks like the Civilian Space Exploration Team has gotten clearance from the FAA and the Bureau of Land Management to attempt the first amateur flight into space. That's pretty cool. Maybe one of you space-mathematics types out there can educate us on just what 0-Mach 5 in 15 seconds really means! Is this thing gonna just blow up?"

6 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. about 10 Gs? by renehollan · · Score: 3, Informative

    subject says it all... speed of sound = 1100 f/s, so 5500 f/s in 15 s = 1100 f/s in 3 s = 367 f/s^2. 10 Gs would be 322 f/s^s. Close enuf. Increased accuracy is welcome.

    --
    You could've hired me.
  2. Here's the numbers... by Spock+the+Baptist · · Score: 3, Informative

    0 to Mach 5 in 15 seconds?

    That's going from 0 mph to 3700 mph, or 0 to 5400 ft/s in a quarter of a minute; assuming 740 mph = Mach 1.

    a = [v(2) - v(1)]/delta t

    a = (5400 ft/s - 0 ft/s)/15 s = 360 ft/s^2
    or about 11gees.

    9 gees is a heavy gee load in air combat maneuvering (dogfighting), so 11 gees is a very heavy gee load. At least over a protracted period.

    --
    "Oh drat these computers, they're so naughty and so complex, I could pinch them." --Marvin the Martian
    1. Re:Here's the numbers... by cheezehead · · Score: 2, Informative

      11 g is a heavy load, yes, for humans. There's nobody on board this thing. The avionics can easily withstand 11 g (and a lot more for that matter).

      --

      MSN 8: Now Microsoft even has bugs in their ad campaigns.

  3. Re:X-Prize? (or was that something else?) by mcelrath · · Score: 3, Informative
    The contest you are thinking of is the Cheap Access To Space (CATS) Prize. Unfortunately, that one expired on November 8, 2000 and the money was returned to the investors. As far as I know, no one since has succeeded in acheiving the requirements for the CATS prize. I think these guys will be the first.

    The X-Prize is a $10 million prize to get 3 people to 100km twice within 2 weeks.

    -- Bob

    --
    1^2=1; (-1)^2=1; 1^2=(-1)^2; 1=-1; 1=0.
  4. I'm one of the leaders of the rocket project. by Eric+Knight · · Score: 3, Informative


    Hi, everyone. I'm glad to join your discussion here.

    I'm one of the leaders of the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT). I head up all of the avionics development of the rocket project you are discussing: http://www.civilianspace.com My specialty is electronics & communications. If I can answer any questions for you, let me know.

    BTW: I see a message thread speculating on the number of g's. We expect a peak of 18 g's just before motor burnout.

    Some other numbers you might find interesting:
    * Motor burnout at 14.2 seconds
    * Mach 5.2 at motor burnout
    * Maximum dynamic pressure (Max Q): 8,500 pounds per square foot (occuring at 13.6 seconds)

    F.Y.I., Since our launch is less than a month away, I'm pretty consumed with pre-launch activities. I may only be able to stop by this forum a couple times per week. I apologize in advance for any tardy replies. ;-) Thanks for your interest in our endeavor!

    -- Eric

  5. Re:Speed of sound w/ altitude... by Eric+Knight · · Score: 3, Informative


    Hi!

    We project 18 Gs just before motor burnout.

    We've been very accurate in calculating (and then confirming) our projections in previous launches. However, I'm not the physics / aerospace guy on the project (so I don't have the wherewithal to provide the calculations). I oversee the electronics & avionics on the rocket.

    Thanks for your interest in our launch!

    Eric Knight
    Project Co-Leader & Avionics Manager
    Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT)
    http://www.civilianspace.com