12/16 Subscale Flight

Our first ever launch as SLI with our subscale happened on December 16, 2023, and it was a truly valuable learning experience. 

Assembling the rocket, particularly the payload, on site presented its own set of challenges, including confusion that led to a malfunction which caused a mini-explosion and a premature match activation (as seen in the video below). 

Having quick problem solving skills and good adaptability, we determined that our original recovery system was unusable and we had to switch over to a motor charge recovery instead. To do this, we had to drill a hole of a certain inch representing the seconds of delay from launch until deployment. Unfortunately, we miscalculated, drilling the hole too deep since we forgot about the built in delay and the main chute deployed too early, the drogue chute following right after. This meant that we didn't reach the simulated altitude of 2050 ft, falling 600 ft short, but the experience provided valuable insights. We identified areas for improvement, such as using larger motors, thoroughly testing payload reliability, and integrating more recording devices. Acknowledging our shortcomings and learning from the experience, we aim for great improvements in future launches. The importance of assigning roles beforehand and frequent communication was highlighted, as well as the need for better coordination, and precautions needed to be taken to avoid any possible safety issues that may be faced, and the importance of better preparation before launch. 

Despite not meeting all expectations, this launch tested our team's perseverance and dedication, propelling us forward armed with the lessons learned from our experiences and failures. We are currently gearing up for our next launch again at Snow Ranch, fueled by the lessons learned with a collective determination to soar even higher in our pursuit of excellence. After all, the sky has no limit, and neither does our rocketry journey.