Launch Report

November 17, 2001
Billings, MT

Temp: Low 60s
Wind: 5 to 20 mph
Where: BLM land at 17 mile marker

Highlights
Last BSRA launch of the year. Very calm in the morning, but became windy in the afternoon. My first flight was the modified Super Big Bertha on an I154-10J. It was an excellent flight, with an estimated height of 4500 feet. Next up was the 7-inch Goblin for its maiden flight on a K700. I had problems getting the nose cone to stay down, even with a shear pin, because the motor adapters stuck up past the end of the motor mount tube into the already small chute compartment. The Goblin had a nice flight to 2500 feet. The AltAcc did not fire because I wired the electric match to the drogue terminal instead of the main, but the MissileWorks RRC2 deployed the chute. The wind started picking up, so I flew the Super Big Bertha on a G40-7W. The selected delay was too long, but it made for a shorter walk. Then I flew the Small Endeavour on its first flight on a H242-6T. The selected delay was too short and resulted in a 10 inch zipper in the Quantum tube. I launched the Super Big Bertha again on another G40-7W. Last flight of the day was the Nike Smoke on a I435-T. It ripped off the pad and the noise hurt my ears. With the short burn it only flew to 1052 feet. Both launch lugs were torn off the rocket!