Been looking at blogs etc. and thought i would write a little update.
As compared to the other years, this year CS have been paying the cost of the home guard doing its launches. Because of this, the launch of Sapphire have been postponed to spring next year.
With the static test of TM65, schedule for next month, the engine is getting updated to use a pressure blow down system, instead of the nitrogen high pressure system used in the first test of the engine. It is hoped that with the new system the engine will reach 65-80 kN thrust instead of the 35 kN in the first test. It is expected that it is in this configuration the engine will fly next year.
It is expected that the test will be live streamed as the first test did.
Experience Bi-Liquid Engine TM65 Test at 125% ThrustCS is also conducting small test with the solid fuel Galcit, same type that have been used in the JATO boosters for take off of airplanes. First test was done 30. September, and 3 more tests was done 16. October.
As with the Spectra project, a report is being written, and can be found on the new
resource area on CS homepage where other reports also can be found. Please note that some reports are in working progress, and will be updated as test and conclusions unfolds.
Experiments with turbo pumps have also been kicked off with a single donation of $3500 out of the expected $4400 project cost. Two used fire pump have also been donated to the project, and been taken apart to see what need to be updated for it to be able to pump LOX. The pump will be designed to deliver 25 bar of pressure and will be outfitted with a gas generator. There have been talk about using a 55 / 45 mixture of sorbitol and KNO3, but that might be too hot, so T-stoff might be the answer. They have 25ltr. T-stoff for the starting tests, but are looking for a supplier for the future use, but at the moment have not found anyone. Test will show if it is possible to make a simple and cheap turbo pump, for use in future rockets. First test will pump water to see if the design work, before trying with LOX, and finally a static test on a TM65 engine.
Von Braun's ghost visiting HAB ...Turbo Tordenskjold!Why do not we build a turbo pump IIWhy CS not build a turbine pump ...CS have also been in talk, with the owner of the shipyard area, about the building of a new test stand VTC 3, that will be able to handle static test of engine up to 250 kN thrust. The new stand will be build 250 meter from where VTC 1 is placed, right next to the drydock. The engine will be placed in a 45 degree angle, that way making use of the water in the drydock as a flame deflector. Two 1600 mm spherical tanks tanks will be placed behind 800 mm concrete. With this new test stand CS will be able to find out if the future 1.6 m diameter rocket will be using one big engine or 4 TM65 engines.
Updated: Building Permit for VTC 3 - test stand for heavy enginesThat would be to the left of the test stands on this panorama picture of the test site
http://pano.dk/Range/Range%20HDR%2001%20Panorama.htmAs mentioned elsewhere CS is doing a crowd-funding on Indiegogo for the new TDS II capsule, but might have gotten into problems with the US OFAC, because of the cuban cigars flown on TDS I. You can read more about that on the Rocketshop blog, as well as studies of hull design, helping out with hatch design, temperature control of the body and reaction control system.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/rocketshop/CS also manages to get on a BBC radio show (16.50+) and Financial Times Germany
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ywhkcDanes in spaceAs always pictures can be found at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114657365514543526210Enjoy
Regards
Morten
