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The Third Flight of the Galactic Zephyr
aka:
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Commander Kip Quasar's Galactic Zephyr and Operation Red Rider — Ralphie Goes Ballistic!
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Listeners to the nationally syndicated Hugh Hewitt Show on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 were astounded to hear a bit of astonishing news announced by the guest hosts from the Northern Alliance Radio Network:
Ralphie, Hugh Hewitt's globe-trotting mascot (animated by the merry band of revelers at Fraters Libertas) will be a passenger aboard Brad's large cigar-shaped rocket,
Commander Kip Quasar's Galactic Zephyr!
(Remember, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.)
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The elder at Fraters is committed to blog about the event as more details become available (as he did
here,
here, and
here).
If you are not familiar with the story of Ralphie, click [HERE!] to learn about Hugh Hewitt's lost twin brother.
It's important for us to give credit where credit is due: the Astro Ralphie created for Operation Red Ryder was crafted by James Phillips. He cloned an ingenious hybrid by mating a Ralphie bobblehead noggin with a G.I. Joe astronaut body. As you can see from the photos, it's a laugh riot.
Who are these rocket guys?
The Vatsaas brothers grew up in Minnesota, and while two of us have moved away
we all retain a fondness for the state known for warm hearts and frigid
backsides. We are also all political junkies, and so it is only natural for us
to enjoy and admire the Northern Alliance of blogs.
Surprisingly, our brother
Rick has found a way to combine our love of Minnesota and politics with a third
predilection that we all share: rocketry. It started with Rick's incarnation of
the Hindrocket, which is a tribute to John Hinderaker of
Power Line.
Now the Minnesota/Politics/Rocketry triumvirate
continues as we plan the launch of our first passenger. If you dare, click on
the RTV Bios button in the top right corner to learn more about the Vatsaas
brothers. Don't say I didn't warn you.
About Ralphie's Ride
Lest you
think that Ralphie will be riding in a pedestrian rocket, we offer to you the
following specifications:
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The Galactic Zephyr stands 13 feet tall, and has a girth of 56 inches. |
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The rocket, including the motor, electronics, parachutes, and Ralphie, will be
nearly 100 pounds. |
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Ralphie and the Galactic Zephyr will be powered by an experimental (not
commercially available) ammonium-perchlorate solid-fuel booster. This
propellant is chemically similar to the solid-fuel boosters on the Space
Shuttle. These are estimates, but the motor should generate thrust totaling up
to 20,000 newtons (4500 pounds). This motor will produce a fifteen foot long scarlet red flame. |
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We predict an altitude for Ralphie of 5,400 feet above ground level. |
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Ralphie will accelerate at over 300 ft/sec/sec (>200 mph/second) |
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Ralphie will reach a maximum velocity of approximately 700 feet/second (475
mph) |
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The back up plan is to fly on an M hybrid motor, similar to that used by Burt
Rutan to win the X-prize with his Spaceship One. The Galactic Zephyr has flown
twice before on this motor to about 3500 feet. Go here to see details (including video) of the
Galactic Zephyr in action. |
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Ralphie will ride in his own internal compartment. We are toying with possibly
ejecting him at intermediate altitude with his own chute, but that is still
tentative. If we decide to jettison Ralphie on his own parachute, we would use
a barometric altimeter triggered computer set to ignite a deployment charge at
approximately 700 feet above ground level. |
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When and Where?
The launch event will take place at Rainbow Valley, AZ (SW of Phoenix) during the last weekend in February. The launch event is the second annual ARG (short for Arizona Rocket Gathering) to be held February 26-27 2005, sponsored by the Arizona High Power Rocketry Association (AHPRA).
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Haven't Had Enough?
For more Rocket Team Vatsaas foolishness, click on the links at the top of the page. Most pages contain ample portions of the same smug silliness found on this one dedicated to Ralphie. For instance, fans of Power Line blogger John Hinderaker should take a look at the flying Hindrocket.
Not interested in rockets? Have no fear! We cannot claim to have the vast quantities of time-squandering trivia of James Lileks, nor do we have his skill at converting our diversions into actual income. We do, however, have hours of inanity for all and sundry. Check out the Missile-aneous page, and be sure to check out More Dangerous Than Rocketry, Dogbert Answers RTV Mail, and the (strangely) vastly-popular Rockets On Cakes.
If you enjoy our site, please leave us your feedback by using the link found at the bottom of each page. If you don't enjoy the site, please have the common decency to keep it to yourself.
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Ralphie poses in his flight suit for the first time. Its obvious that he will have to endure rigorous humility training before his head will fit into his helmet.
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I packed my bags last night, pre-flight. Zero hour: nine a.m.
Ralphie supervises the final wiring checks.
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Ralphie at the base of the Galactic Zephyr.
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Ralphie peers out from the main parachute tube.
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Ralphie surveys the landscape from his lofty perch.
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Careful, Ralphie - you'll poke your eye out!
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Ralphie settles in to his flight compartment.
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Flight
The obligatory pose at the pad. Paul Holmes readies the ignition system. (Hey, Brad -- who dressed you this morning?)
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The first burst of smoke erupts from the motor. Ralphie wets his jumper.
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The Galactic Zephyr leaps off the pad.
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Operation Red Ryder streaks toward the sky!
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Gaining speed and altitude.
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The motor burn continued for 5.56 seconds.
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The curve in the smoke trail indicates that the rocket is beginning to spiral
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The revolutions per second continues to increase even after motor burnout
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The oscillations during ascent break the sheer pins. Drag separation causes the drogue chute to deploy early. The Zephyr was still traveling at 130 feet per second when it came apart.
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The violent deployment of the drogue also shook the main parachute loose. It was a long descent. I have to hand it to Jeff Covert, the guy who made the drogue -- that's one tough chute!
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The Zephyr gently touches down on the Arizona desert. Ralphie lets his breath out.
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A small crowd of Ralphie admirers gathers around hoping for a glimpse of the brave bobble.
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Ralphie finally gathers his wits about him and climbs out of his compartment.
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After the flight, Ralphie is now sporting a crack in his visor and a crick in his neck.
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Rick commented that the photo of Ralphie's cracked visor reminded him of this scene from "The Right Stuff".
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Back at the pad: this is the crater dug out by the N2500 motor blast, 16" across and 8" deep.
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Brad holds up the motor casing machined by Ron Zeppin. It is still REALLY HOT!
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The following graphs are created from the data downloaded from the on-board flight computer.
Flight Summary
Altitude Graph
Airspeed Graph
Acceleration Graph
INDEX
- Introduction (narrative)
- Construction Package
- Construction Package
- Recovery Package
- Stability Evaluation
- Flight Performance Parameters
- Procedural Checklists (MS word document)
- Pre-Launch Checklist
- Motor Preparation and Installation
- Recovery Preparation
- Parachute and Harness Preparation
- Control Devices Preparation
- Pyrotechnics Preparation
- Launch Checklist
- Pad Procedures
- Launch Sequence
- Misfire Procedures
- Recovery Checklist
- Normal Recovery Procedures
- Flight Failure Procedures
- Calculations and Resource Files
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PHOTO BY BILLY DAHLBERG
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