"KH One" is named because it's the first of 2 planned rockets designed specifically for the "K" Heavy (16lb) Bowling Ball competition to be held at
LDRS XXII in Argonia, KS July 2003.
This is almost identical to "Scooby Doo" that won the Bowling Ball competition at LDRS 2002.
The differences are:
- Longer tapered section to allow extra room for larger parachute, and possibly drogue/main recovery
- Heavier construction: 3 layers of Carbon Fiber instead of 2 to handle larger thrust K Motors
- Slightly longer body section to utilize any 54mm full K including AMW
- Different Electronics: BlackSky AltAcc 2C
- Constructed using same techniques as Stripes to get a smooth body surface
3/15/2003 CRMRC Ice Launch, Mallets Bay, VT
Motor: Aerotech J800
Altitude: 2547 feet. (barometric)
Electronics: BlackSky AltAcc 2C
Payload: 16 pound bowling ball
Recovery: TopFlight
CF-78 (custom), connected to ball with 1/4" tubular Kevlar (3000lb)
About 25 degrees, clear skies and almost no wind at ground level but slight wind above.
This was the first flight for "KH One", and was launched using the modified launch tower (now 16 foot tall rails and wheels for easy mobility).
The J800 gave it quite a kick, based on simulations it accelerated the 16 pound ball to 270 mph (straight up) in just 1.5 seconds. Totally awesome!!
It was slightly squirly towards the end of the burn, then it coasted up for what seemed to be a really long time.
The parachute deployed cleanly right at apogee and a puff of smoke from the backup charge (connected to Main on the AltAcc) could be seen as it descended
to 600 feet. Because of upper winds it landed about 1/2 mile away.
No damage. Altitude verified by John Goodman.
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"KH One" held by me (Geoff Elder)
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