Basic Information
Name	Z-25
Launch date:	21 May, 2016
Rocket description	- 63.5mm aluminum airframe - 4 fins, birch plywood, reduced span - birch elliptical nosecone - 3 ft. ellipsoidal parachute - SM = 1.05 (initial)
Payload	- Raven altimeter - BRB900 GPS transmitter - Smoke charge (activated by Raven at 2500 ft. level) - Apogee Backup Timer - SJ1000-SC Video camera
Liftoff mass	2.580 kg.
Flight objectives	- Test new video camera - Test smoke charge initiation at prescribed altitude

Motor details
Motor name	Impulser-X
Propellant	KNDX
Grain mass	377 grams
Nominal impulse	444 N-sec
Class	I

Additional information

A new video camera similar to the SJ1000 used in earlier flights is being flight tested for 1^st time.

Weather conditions
Temperature	26°C
Wind	S 33 km/hr
Sky	Clear & sunny
Other	RH 26%
Ceiling	30k ft.

Launch Event Description

The wagon was used to transport our rocket paraphernalia to the launch site for the 1^st time this season. As we began to set up the launch pad, I noticed that I had brought along the wrong pre-flight checklist. It was therefore necessary to proceed by memory, which went reasonably well. The BRB transmitter was switched on, then on-board camera was activated. Raven flight computer confirmed all four pyro charges had continuity. Backup timer was tested and confirmed to be operating nominally. A camcorder was set up on a tripod to capture liftoff. I used the hand-held Sony camcorder (with scope tube) to attempt to film the complete flight. After verifying the sky was clear, the countdown proceeded. Immediately after ignition switch was closed, smoke was seen issuing from the nozzle and one second later, the rocket soared off the pad, climbing dead vertical. The motor burned for about two seconds. The rocket was visible during a good portion of the ascent, with the bright sun illuminating the rocket. About 10 seconds after disappearing from sight, a pair of white smoke clouds appeared, signaling successful apogee separation and backup pyro firing. The rocket was then sighted tumbling down, visually made clear by flashes of the sun glinting off the rocket. A third smoke cloud then appeared. The rocket continued to tumble downward, and a short while later, a faint white smoke trail appeared which grew rapidly denser and highly visible against the deep blue sky. The smoke trail continued for about 15 seconds. Following burnout of the smoke charge, the tumbling rocket was distinctly visible due to the clear sky. A smoke cloud suddenly appeared as the parachute charge fired. About a second later, the parachute was seen to blossom and the rocket gently drifted earthward, carried downrange by the wind. Touchdown occurred about a minute later. We then programmed the BRB GPS coordinates into the Garmin hand-held GPS unit, which indicated the landing site was 0.56 miles away.

When we arrived at the touchdown site, the rocket appeared to be in nearly perfect condition. Scrape marks on the paint and slightly abraded fins provided evidence that the strong wind had carried the rocket along the gravel-covered ground for some distance after landing.

Before packing up, we used the anemometer to measure and record the wind speed.

Flight Analysis
Event:	Time (sec)	feet	metres
Apogee	15.2	3606	1099
Separation	16.0	3596	1096
Main deployment	55.2	825	251
Touchdown	110	-	-
Range	-	3060	933
Descent rates:	ft./sec.	m/sec.
Free-fall	73.3	22.3
Main parachute	10.9/15.9	3.32/4.85

Post-flight analysis and comments:

Post-flight examination confirmed that the rocket was in great shape except for some minor scratches and scuffs. Excellent on-board HD video was obtained.

Despite the harsh wind (33 km/hr), which was of higher velocity than forecast, the rocket did not weathercock whatsoever. This is attributed to the minimal stability margin (1.05 at liftoff).

The Smoke Charge fired at the exact altitude specified in the Raven 4^th channel configuration. The total burn time of the smoke charge was 14 seconds, less than the expected 22 seconds, perhaps due to a void in the grain. The smoke trail stood out very distinctly against the blue sky and greatly aided visual tracking during free-fall.

As indicated by the Raven data, the descent rate was usually slow. This was perhaps a result of rising air currents due to the particular terrain over which the rocket descended. The same had been noted for Flight Z-21, which descended over the same terrain.

Good video coverage of the entire flight was obtained with the hand-held camcorder, once again demonstrating the merit of the “scope tube”.

Raven baro and accelerometer graph:

Barometric and axial acceleration data Z-25\Z-25_Raven.jpg

Acceleration data during burn Z-25\Z-25_Raven_accel.jpg

Photos:

Z-24 Rocket with my brother, Blair Z-25\DSCN0303.JPG

Liftoff (view from tripod camera) Z-25\z-25_nikon1.jpg

Liftoff and ascent (hand-held camera) Z-25\z-25_sony1.jpg

Z-25\z-25_sony2.jpg

Z-25\z-25_sony3.jpg

Z-25\z-25_sony4.jpg

Liftoff, on-board camera view Z-25\ssj-capture1.jpg