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University of Cape Town Team Breaks World Water Rocketry Record (uct.ac.za)

Posted by samzenpus on from the do-not-shake dept.

New submitter Cycliclogic writes: A team of engineers based at the University of Cape Town recently had their record breaking flights of their water powered rocket Ascension III ratified by the Water Rocket Achievement World Record Association. This record is for a single stage rocket power purely on pressurized water. Two launches must be completed within two hours, the record being set at the mean above-ground altitude of the two flights. The record now stands at a whopping 2723 Feet (830m). You can watch videos of the launches here. (Warning: they're loud.)

3 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. 0.8 km down... by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...only 152.2 km to go.

    In all seriousness, I wonder what they could achieve with a multistage version.

    1. Re:0.8 km down... by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Oops, bad math. I should have said, only 159.2 km to go. Well, like Mom always said, I'm no rocket scientist.

  2. I know someone who did far better. by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Back in the 70s. Bought a 10,000psi stainless cylinder at surplus. Screwed on a fin set, nozzle and burst plate he constructed. Then filled it 80% with water before building a bonfire around it.

    They drank beer until the pressure plate popped out at about 8,000 psi.

    They were walking around, stomping out fires in the dessert when a group of nice airmen in a Huey invited them to come and talk. They denied everything.

    Apparently Russian launch detection satellites saw the flight. He claims they made 10k meters+.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'