Basic Information
Name	Z-19
Launch date:	17 August, 2015
Rocket description	- 63.5mm aluminum airframe - 4 fins, birch plywood, reduced span - birch elliptical nosecone - 3 ft. ellipsoidal parachute
Payload	- Raven altimeter - Minicamcorder (HD) - BRB900 GPS transmitter - Smoke charge (med.output) - Apogee Backup Timer
Liftoff mass	2.491 kg.
Flight objectives	- Assess medium output Smoke Charge - Assess new Minicamcorder - Assess new Apogee Backup Timer

Motor details
Motor name	Impulser
Propellant	KNSB
Grain mass	305 grams
Nominal impulse	359 N-sec
Class	I

Additional information

Smoke Charge for this flight is KNSB 65/35 O/F ratio (was 60/40). This is to increase smoke output rate to improve sighting. A new aft-facing minicamcorder is being flown for the first time. The model is SJ1000 with 12 megapixel HD image. A backup timer, intended to fire a pyro separation charge a few seconds after apogee, was designed and built. Although the Raven has proven to be highly reliable, achieving 100% reliability with regard to apogee separation in 18 flights, it was felt prudent to employ an independent backup system. This is in support of my “Avoid Complacency” directive.

Weather conditions
Temperature	18°C
Wind	NE 4 km/hr
Sky	Sunny with scattered clouds
Other	Humidity 65%

Launch Event Description

Setup of the rocket once again went smoothly with no glitches. A checklist was used for this flight due to increased level of setup complexity. Raven confirmed all three pyro charges had continuity. A video camera was set up about 15 feet from the pad to capture liftoff from up close. After verifying the sky was clear, the countdown proceeded and at “zero” the rocket immediately came to life, rapidly accelerating skyward. The rocket ascended straight as an arrow, reached apogee and shortly after, the apogee pyro charge fired, as indicated by a bright smoke cloud. The rocket then free fell as expected, tumbling as it fell. The smoke trail was clearly visible and greatly aided tracking. At about 400 ft. altitude, pyro charge fired, producing a bright smoke cloud. The parachute did not immediately deploy, and after free-falling for a few more seconds, chute suddenly deployed and fully blossomed. Rocket slowly drifted down to earth in a stable manner, landing about 10 seconds later in a nearby field. The rocket was soon recovered and appeared to be in great shape.

Flight Analysis
Event:	Time (sec)	feet	metres
Apogee	13.2	2590	789
Separation	14.2	2582	787
Main deployment	49.5	194	59
Touchdown	59.3
Range		356	109
Descent rates:	ft./sec.	m/sec.
Free-fall	69.7	21.2
Main parachute	17.5	5.3

Post-flight analysis and comments:

Post-flight examination confirmed that the rocket was in perfect shape after landing. The Apogee Backup Timer system appeared to work nominally, as pyro charge had fired. The on-board video footage was very good, with excellent resolution, clarity and colour. The footage clearly showed that the rocket ascended in a very stable manner with no wobble. The medium output smoke charge produced a readily visible trail. Oddly, it burned a lot longer than expected, 37 seconds compared to the expected 24 seconds. The chute pyro charge needs to be slightly increased and more nosecone retaining tape is required to ensure reliable chute deployment.

Raven baro and accelerometer graph:

Barometric and axial acceleration data Z-19\Z-19_Raven.jpg

BRB GPS tracking of flight Z-19\Z-19_BRB_mapped.jpg

Photos:

SJ1000 camcorder mounting Z-19\DSCF3676a.JPG

Z-19\DSCF3675a.JPG

Apogee Backup Timer module Z-19\DSCN0015a.JPG

Z-19\DSCN0017a.JPG

Propellant grains Z-19\DSCF3677a.JPG

Rocket on pad Z-19\DSCN0020a.JPG

Liftoff and ascent Z-19\Image3.jpg

Z-19\Image4.jpg