Author Topic: Rocket Crafters  (Read 8569 times)

Offline zaitcev

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Rocket Crafters
« on: 10/15/2012 05:46 pm »
Seen everywhere, for example at Doug's blog:

Quote
DENVER (WATKINS), CO — October 10, 2012 (Spaceport Colorado PR) — Front Range Airport, home to the future Spaceport Colorado, signed a Letter of Intent with Rocket Crafters, Inc. for horizontal launch, dual-propulsion, suborbital flight operations at this “remote, but accessible” general aviation airport.

The Letter of Intent outlines a mutual intent to promote and develop Spaceport Colorado at Front Range Airport as the preferred commercial spaceport location in America’s heartland. Upon receipt of a spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration, Rocket Crafters intends to locate certain pilot astronaut and mission specialist training activities at the spaceport. Rocket Crafters further plans to conduct test flights of its planned Sidereus and Cosmos Mariner suborbital flight vehicles between Spaceport Colorado and the proposed Neil Armstrong International Air & Space Center, Titusville, Florida.

Who are these people? I cannot find any mention of them at NSF, unless they cunningly renamed themselves from, ahem, Rocketplane.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #1 on: 10/15/2012 06:28 pm »
http://rocketcrafters.com/

I have seen the image below on some other site, many years ago, but it is on the Rocket Crafters site now.
« Last Edit: 10/15/2012 06:30 pm by Danderman »

Offline Prober

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #2 on: 10/15/2012 07:22 pm »
http://rocketcrafters.com/

I have seen the image below on some other site, many years ago, but it is on the Rocket Crafters site now.

the Spacefaring Company

interesting.....
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Offline RanulfC

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #3 on: 10/16/2012 09:07 pm »
"Cosmos Mariner" actually, was a duel-propulsion spaceplane designed by Lonestar Space Access (formerly Dynamica Research) that was a "contender" for the X-Prize but got no funding.

Not sure if these folks are related at all, their propulsion section mentions using hybrid motors, Lonestar was supposed to use a liquid LOX/Kero engine set.

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Offline Prober

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #4 on: 10/17/2012 03:36 am »
maybe some X- ATK people?

address is in Utah.

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Offline jongoff

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #5 on: 10/18/2012 06:11 pm »
maybe some X- ATK people?

address is in Utah.

It is amusing to note that a lot of the facilities pictured on their website are actually Utah State University facilities. There's actually an Altius student engineer (who was finishing up a masters degree out at USU) in one of their pictures even...

~Jon

Offline Lar

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #6 on: 08/08/2017 03:33 am »
Bump.... back in the news

DARPA contract...

http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2017/07/25/rocket-crafters-will-develop-hybrid-rocket-engine-darpa/

followed by more on the virtues of a hybrid, using ABS no less[1]. However the author is exceedingly sloppy, as you'll see if you read it... :)

http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2017/08/04/rocket-crafters-exec-advantages-hybrid-rocket-engines/

Hat tip to Gongora for finding this and nudging me to bump this thread.

1 - for the two[2] people that don't know this, ABS or Acrilonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is the plastic used in the manufacture of LEGO elements.
2 - ok, MAYBE 3 people didn't.
« Last Edit: 08/08/2017 03:35 am by Lar »
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Offline Lar

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #7 on: 08/08/2017 03:45 am »
ABS isn't just used for LEGO elements. It's also common in automotive applications and 3D printing. Smells bad compared to PLA, tho.

Correct. The LEGO Company didn't invent ABS. In fact it wasn't the first material they used, that would be CA (Cellulose Acetate)... after a while, they sought a replacement with better properties, and found it in ABS. Although ABS has many other uses, TLC's use is a significant share of the overall market.  But we digress. It's interesting to see them use this.
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline tyrred

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #8 on: 08/08/2017 03:53 am »
Would this spacecraft fall into the category of a LEGO elements rocket?

Jim?

Offline Lar

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #9 on: 08/08/2017 04:01 am »
No! It's just made partly with ABS. Not all thngs made with ABS are LEGO elements, as Robotbeat pointed out. (in a post that I deleted, because I can)

Oh wait, you were funning.
« Last Edit: 08/08/2017 04:02 am by Lar »
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Online Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #10 on: 08/08/2017 06:55 am »
Gilmour Space Technologies is also using 3D printed ABS as the fuel in their hybrid motors. They are using hydrogen peroxide for the oxidiser though instead of nitrous oxide.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Tywin

Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #11 on: 03/21/2019 03:57 pm »
Fresh news...

Quote
"We spent years working on tests and started rewickering," Fabian said. "We had been printing the fuel cylinders in stacked rings. But we learned that a horizontal, linear structure is easier and faster to print; it's more stable as you print it."

The change at Rocket Crafters highlights the competitive innovation underlying this rapidly growing industry.

"It's secretive, yes. We don't share technology," Fabian said. "But there is a little back-channel talking just to make sure we're not stepping on each other's toes for patents."

Rocket Crafters' engine design uses a 3D-printed plastic fuel core, which combines with nitrous oxide at ignition. That's different than many other rockets flying today that mix two flammable liquids. According to Rocket Crafters and others who have tested hybrid engines, they are safer because there's less risk of a catastrophic explosion.

"With this, there should be zero explosions," Fabian said.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Florida_space_startup_Rocket_Crafters_pivots_with_new_patents_for_3D_printed_fuel_999.html
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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #12 on: 03/21/2019 09:47 pm »
Fresh news...
Quote
"With this, there should be zero explosions," Fabian said.

A chunk of fuel breaking off and blocking the nozzle exit is a good way for a hybrid engine to explode. There can also be cracks in the propellant causing an increase in pressure or burn through, rupturing the chamber. Also nitrous oxide can explode on its own under the right conditions.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online CameronD

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #13 on: 03/21/2019 11:22 pm »
Fresh news...
Quote
"With this, there should be zero explosions," Fabian said.

A chunk of fuel breaking off and blocking the nozzle exit is a good way for a hybrid engine to explode. There can also be cracks in the propellant causing an increase in pressure or burn through, rupturing the chamber. Also nitrous oxide can explode on its own under the right conditions.

..as Scaled Composites discovered back in 2007.  (It seems like only yesterday I saw those news reports.. :'()

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RocketMotorTwo
« Last Edit: 03/21/2019 11:24 pm by CameronD »
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline jongoff

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #14 on: 05/09/2019 07:06 pm »
I really like RUAG, but wonder how well this partnership is going to work out...

Offline Archibald

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #15 on: 05/10/2019 10:53 am »
sounds too much like Rocket CRATERS - which is a rather unfortunate omen for a newspace launch company...
« Last Edit: 05/10/2019 10:55 am by Archibald »
Han shot first and Gwynne Shotwell !

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #16 on: 07/03/2019 08:29 pm »
https://twitter.com/rocketcrafters/status/1146467578442846209

Quote
An exciting morning at @RocketCrafters: A test firing of the company’s STAR-3D hybrid engine was safely aborted ~1.5 seconds post-ignition — still enough time for my cameras to capture images! I look forward to following & watching Rocket Crafters grow in the coming years.

https://twitter.com/rocketcrafters/status/1146493274921820164

Quote
HF-43: The motor ignited, stabilized, and fired for approx. 1.5 seconds. At that time the igniter housing pressure seal failed, causing the system to automatically shut down. Our team is working to adapt the design to prevent this from happening again. #RedefiningRocketScience

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #17 on: 02/13/2020 06:25 pm »
No injuries:

Quote
Rocket engine test in Cocoa sends debris flying, starts fire
Loud boom reported by Cidco Road area business near Rocket Crafters’ test site

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Rocket engine company Rocket Crafters was conducting an engine test Thursday that resulted in a mishap sending debris flying and starting small brush fires, company officials confirmed to News 6.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/02/13/rocket-engine-test-in-cocoa-ends-in-explosion/

Edit to add:

twitter.com/rocketcrafters/status/1228033374243246082

Quote
During a scheduled engine test fire shortly after 12:00pm today, Rocket Crafters suffered an over-pressurization anomaly.

Per standard procedure, individuals were cleared from the test bay before the test, and no one on-site was injured during the incident.

https://twitter.com/rocketcrafters/status/1228035312238112779

Quote
We thank the City of Cocoa, The Cocoa Fire Department, and the Cocoa Police Department for their quick response time and commitment to safety.

@CityofCocoa  @cocoapolice
« Last Edit: 02/13/2020 06:33 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #18 on: 02/13/2020 10:10 pm »
https://twitter.com/gpallone13/status/1228077270251790339

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Drone footage of damage = @Jon_Shaban @MyNews13 #News13Brevard

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rocket Crafters
« Reply #19 on: 02/15/2020 08:43 pm »
twitter.com/john_winkopp/status/1228795518421229568

Quote
Looking in direction that debre departed after #RocketCrafters rocket test failure, then how close the facility is to #SpaceX #Cidco #Starship facility

https://twitter.com/john_winkopp/status/1228795945443299329

Quote
Debre hit the tractor trailer in distance and not the fuel trucks, fortunately.

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