scope:

Abstract:

The Dryden Aerospike Rocket Test Director's Discretionary Fund (DDF) project conducted flight research of an aerospike rocket nozzle design using high power amateur rockets. The standard nozzles in these rockets were replaced by the aerospike nozzles and the rockets are then flown with aerospike nozzles only. Two aerospike rockets were flown successfully to altitudes of over 26,000 ft and speeds of over Mach 1.5. The flight data acquired during the flight tests were stored onboard and retrieved after the rockets were recovered. To help locate the rockets after they landed and homing radio beacon transmitters were installed on the recovery parachute harness. Two homing radio beacon transmitters were used. They were made by different manufacturers and operated on two different frequencies. An antenna broke from one of the transmitters, causing it to stop transmitting. The rocket was found using the radio signal from the remaining operative transmitter.