Proton

Back in early 2000, the Proton was still considered by many the most capable, commercial, expendable launch vehicle presently in operational service. This cool Russian rocket, still in service today, has 6 strap-on boosters, though they do not detach in flight.

I am using a scale of .0745 (7% or so) resulting in a 12" dia, 14' tall rocket with 4.5" boosters. The main will have a 6" motor mount (the real Proton has no central motor) and the boosters will be 75mm. For East Coast launches with lower waivers, I'll adapt the main motor to 98mm, and boosters to 54mm if needed. I will add fins (3) to provide stability. I hope to use Lexan to lessen their appearance.

Materials have been gathered and the RotW spec sheet and I am ready to begin. I will document the build as much as possible. With no local interest in a group project, I will be building it primarily alone. If you'd like to help, just let me know.

Here is my version of a rocket "kit". Four 12" x 48" sona tubes, 2 - 2'x4' shts of 1/2" finish grade plywood, some 3/8" ply for spacing, and the motor mount tubes. I'll cut the 54mm tubes in half to make 6 - 75mm>54mm adapters for the boosters. The big one is the 98mm for the 6">98mm adapter. The 6" motor mount will be the centering rings themselves, with some supports. I still need the 6 - 4.5" booster tubes and the 75mm MMTs.

After running a number of simulations with RockSim, I've picked some motor combinations for my initial flight at the Winter Nationals in Feb '08. Assuming I don't exceed my 150 lb estimate, I propose:

AMW N2020 WT central motor (98mm)
AMW K650 RR in the six boosters (54mm)

RockSim gives me about 8000' and a max velocity of 450mph with this configuration. The biggest problem is getting all the cases. If you'd like to loan/donate one to the flight, just let me know. Same with the reloads, if interested. Depending on availability I may have to change specific motors, but this is my general goal.

Jorge Blanco, Roswell GA, joined the project and will be repairing my 24' chute and helping with the mass of centering rings and bulkheads we will be needing. Thanks! Jorge.

I got the 6" motor mount rings and fin slot material cut and should start glassing some tubes tomorrow.

I have 13 yards of fiberglass cloth and a gallon of expoxy .. I'll use it all before I'm done.

I finally got the tubes and plywoord to Jorge so he can start on the rings. The Sun Room I've been building and the Holidays have really set me back, but we're making some progress now.