Field Size
The image above to the right shows the area of which certain engines can be launched. The key is as follows:
- Yellow (100 sq ft): A
- Green (200 sq ft): A, B
- Purple (400 sq ft): A, B, C
- Red (500 sq ft): A, B, C, D
- Blue (1000 sq ft): A, B, C, D, E, F, G
- Yellow (100 sq ft): A
- Green (200 sq ft): A, B
- Purple (400 sq ft): A, B, C
- Red (500 sq ft): A, B, C, D
- Blue (1000 sq ft): A, B, C, D, E, F, G
The safest flight field COMPLETELY free of buildings would be 500 sq ft, or the red box. However, the blue box (1000 sq ft) would be doable. On a windy day, however, the it would be risky because the rocket could potentially leave the 1000 sq ft box. On a wind-free day, there wouldn't be much of a problem launching an A-G engine at the high school
Parts of Field and Station Placement
- Trackers: The trackers are responsible for measuring the altitude of the rocket and to "track" the rocket.
- Recovery Team: The recovery team's job is to recover the rocket. They must communicate with each other so that each knows where the rocket is and where it landed.
- Range Safety Officer: The range safety officer's job is to make sure the launch site is safe. That includes ensuring everyone is far enough away from the launch site.
- Recovery Team: The recovery team's job is to recover the rocket. They must communicate with each other so that each knows where the rocket is and where it landed.
- Range Safety Officer: The range safety officer's job is to make sure the launch site is safe. That includes ensuring everyone is far enough away from the launch site.
Wind
In the picture to the right, the wind is blowing from right to left. The place that wind mostly affects the rocket during launch is near the fins because the center of mass is closer to the top of the rocket. The rocket should be launched with the wind because launching it against the wind would cause it to take a nose-dive if strong enough winds are present.
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Determining Altitude
Distance = distance from tracker to launch site
Theta = angle of inclination Altitude = (distance)tan(angle of inclination) The trackers should stand a distance that is equal to the altitude. While this is impossible to determine, rockets manufacturers give an estimate of how high the rockets will reach. The distance should be the estimate of the altitude. One tracker should stand on each side because it would reduce error. The average altitude of the two trackers will most likely yield a better result than if just one tracker made a measurement. |