Preliminary Design Review“The Distribution of Ionizing Radiation with Altitude”

Left to Right:Tom L.- PayloadJames Z.- ConstructionIzzy S.- Audio VisualYoussef B.- Program ManagerDr. Marintsch - Head MentorRandall H. - SafetyAldo F. - Outreach/PublicityPaul T. - Rocket designNot in Photo: Mr. D. Laney,

Mr. M. Loughlin

St. Thomas High School, Houston, TXhttp:// rocketry.sths.org

AgendaAgenda

••Mission Statement and GoalsMission Statement and Goals••Launch Vehicle and Payload SummaryLaunch Vehicle and Payload Summary••Vehicle Body Vehicle Body SystemSystem••Propulsion Propulsion SystemSystem••Recovery Recovery SystemSystem••Payload Payload SystemSystem••Payload ExperimentPayload Experiment••Planning of System TestsPlanning of System Tests••SafetySafety••Budget and OutreachBudget and Outreach

mission statement and goalsmission statement and goals

Mission StatementMission StatementOur mission is to supply accurate data about cosmic Our mission is to supply accurate data about cosmic

radiation by building a safe and functioning rocket that radiation by building a safe and functioning rocket that can provide ample time for data collection.can provide ample time for data collection.

GoalsGoals••Reach an altitude of one mile.Reach an altitude of one mile.••Payload records data on ionizing radiation.Payload records data on ionizing radiation.••Both parachutes deploy at predetermined altitudes.Both parachutes deploy at predetermined altitudes.••Land within one square mile.Land within one square mile.••Rocket retrievable with payload intact.Rocket retrievable with payload intact.••Shed light on radiation variation with altitude.Shed light on radiation variation with altitude.

launch vehicle and payload summarylaunch vehicle and payload summaryVehicle:Vehicle:Length - 90”Length - 90” Mass with Motor - 10,038 gMass with Motor - 10,038 gDiameter - 5.40”Diameter - 5.40” Stability Margin - 2.11Stability Margin - 2.11Motor - K560WMotor - K560W Launch System - 1.5”x1.5” (10’)Launch System - 1.5”x1.5” (10’)

RecoveryRecovery::Drogue – 28” at ApogeeDrogue – 28” at ApogeeMain – 120” at 1500 ft.Main – 120” at 1500 ft.

Payload Experiment SummaryPayload Experiment Summary::Measure levels of cosmic radiation with altitude through the Measure levels of cosmic radiation with altitude through the

use of Geiger Mueller Tubes whose data will be use of Geiger Mueller Tubes whose data will be correlated with time and altitude.correlated with time and altitude.

SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

Vehicle BodyVehicle Body

PropulsionPropulsion

RecoveryRecovery

PayloadPayload

(1) Vehicle Body System

•Modified LOC Precision Magnum 3e•Three Body Tubes (5.40”- size needed for payload) Lower (31”) – K560W, Drogue, G10 Fins, Camera Middle (28”) – Payload Bay, Canards Upper (11”) – Main Chute•Nose Cone (21”) GPS Transmitter

(2) Propulsion System(2) Propulsion System

••Motor: Motor: Aerotech Aerotech K560WK560W

••Thrust / Weight: Thrust / Weight: 5.75.7::11 (Thrustcurve) [560N / (10 kg x 9.8m/s(Thrustcurve) [560N / (10 kg x 9.8m/s22)] )]

5.15.1::11 (Rocksim) [497N / (10 kg x (Rocksim) [497N / (10 kg x 9.8m/s9.8m/s22)])]

••Velocity off Launch Rod:Velocity off Launch Rod: 59.5 ft/s59.5 ft/s

••Rail Length:Rail Length: 10 ft10 ft

••Burn Time:Burn Time: 4.6 s4.6 s

(3) Recovery System

Drogue Chute• 28” LOC Precision•Deployed at Apogee (18.3 s)•Perfectflite Dual Deployment Altimeter

Main Chute•120” Public Missiles•Deployment at 1500 ft (70.8 s) •Perfectflite Dual Deployment Altimeter

Landing•Landing at 158 s•Velocity at Landing: 19.3ft/s(V); 10.3ft/s(H); 21.9ft/s(M)

(4) Payload System

Within Middle Body Tube•Bay #1 - Geiger Mueller Tubes.•Bay #2 - Circuit Board and Processor, Gamma-Scout Geiger Counter.•Bay #3 - Two Altimeters – Linked to ejection charges at either end of Payload Bay.

Within Nose Cone•GPS Transmitter

Outside of Lower Body Tube•Videocamera

payload experimentpayload experimentHypothesisHypothesisAfter consideration of the After consideration of the

effects due to terrestrial effects due to terrestrial radiation, we would radiation, we would expect the counts to expect the counts to increase with elevation increase with elevation as the net absorption of as the net absorption of Secondary Cosmic Secondary Cosmic Radiation by the Radiation by the atmosphere decreases.atmosphere decreases.

payload experimentpayload experiment

SignificanceSignificance(1) Radiation is measured with altitude using 12”-(1) Radiation is measured with altitude using 12”-

long Geiger Mueller Tubes expected to record up long Geiger Mueller Tubes expected to record up to 400 cpm over 140 s of descent and 18 s of to 400 cpm over 140 s of descent and 18 s of ascent.ascent.

(2) Radiation levels are suggested to be associated (2) Radiation levels are suggested to be associated with changes in atmospheric conditions (such as with changes in atmospheric conditions (such as cloud formation and global warming; chlorine cloud formation and global warming; chlorine production and ozone depletion)production and ozone depletion)

(3) Radiation levels are linked to the breakdown of (3) Radiation levels are linked to the breakdown of DNA in organic tissue and so merit further DNA in organic tissue and so merit further study.study.

planning of system testsplanning of system tests••PayloadPayload – Geiger Counters and – Geiger Counters and

(a) consistency of data collection, (a) consistency of data collection, (b) background counts, (b) background counts, (c) isolation of ray sources.(c) isolation of ray sources.

••GPSGPS – Locality tracking. – Locality tracking.

••RecoveryRecovery – Ejection charges and chute – Ejection charges and chute deployment. Safety and deployment. Safety and

RF Signals.RF Signals.

••PropulsionPropulsion – (a) Inspection of parts, – (a) Inspection of parts, (b) assembly supervision. (b) assembly supervision.

••VehicleVehicle – Scale model launch. – Scale model launch.

••CameraCamera – Video testing. – Video testing.

safety planssafety plans

Prior to each project phasePrior to each project phase::

Review system risks and mitigations.Review system risks and mitigations.

Review Safety Codes.Review Safety Codes.

Pass test on Safety Procedures.Pass test on Safety Procedures.

Sign Safety Statement.Sign Safety Statement.

budget and outreachbudget and outreachBudgetBudget

Current major purchasesCurrent major purchases • • Geiger Counter with data storage ($445) • Rocket Parts ($295) Geiger Counter with data storage ($445) • Rocket Parts ($295) • • Geiger Mueller tubes ($200) Geiger Mueller tubes ($200) • GPS System • GPS System

($450)($450) Subtotal $1390Subtotal $1390

Imminent PurchasesImminent Purchases• • 120” parachute ($190) 120” parachute ($190) • Video camera ($100) • Video camera ($100)• • Five additional GM tubes ($570)Five additional GM tubes ($570) Subtotal $860Subtotal $860

OutreachOutreach• • Continued exploration of fund raising Continued exploration of fund raising

strategies. Current preparation of strategies. Current preparation of Informational Flyers/Brochures.Informational Flyers/Brochures.

• • Formulation of presentation/workshop Formulation of presentation/workshop strategies.strategies.