More about the MSS-2 flight

Chris King successfully downloaded the data from the flight computer,
Chute Controller and Featherweight Parrot. Detailed analysis of flight
data will be forthcoming in the near future.
- Ken Manatt, who led the tracking effort, provided the following post-flight report:

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/km_tracking_report.pdf

Photos of the launch event:

Rick Maschek 'painting' ignition primer on sugar grains

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05785.jpg

Paul Avery & John Newman discussing possible DoubleSShot launch tower design

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05802.jpg

Bill Colburn with MiniSShot-2

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05821.jpg

JP Montello applies silicone grease to Mid-bulkhead while Paul checks off that step

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05823.jpg

JP Montello installs screws for Mid-bulkhead

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05826.jpg

Paul and JP measure out copper thermite ingredients while JP senior looks on

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05831.jpg

MiniSShot-2 awaits forward avionics as Garvey Spacecraft people get safety briefing
on the LOX Methane static test in background

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05833.jpg

JP readies thermite igniter for test

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05842.jpg

Video of 5 gram thermite igniter test. For MSS, 10 grams were used for each motor chamber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-hGywbs1S0

Ed Holyoke and Chris King ready forward avionics for airframe attachment

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05880.jpg

Chris and Ed work to finish assembly completion

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05885.jpg

MiniSShot after Rick pulls the safety shunt...now waiting liftoff

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05886.jpg

Rick and Paul recover detached forward avionics after tracking teams report
beacon position near launch site

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05902.jpg

(photos & video courtesy Rick Maschek)

The following are photos of the fractured section of the Recovery Bay:

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05950.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05953.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05954.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05955.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05957.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc05958.jpg

(photos courtesy Rick Maschek)

Additional photos of launch event:

JP Montello applies silicone grease to Mid-bulkhead

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc_5477.jpg

Business end of the MiniSShot-2 rocket motor

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc_5478.jpg

Liftoff of MiniSShot-2

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc_5603.jpg

MiniSShot-2 clears the launch tower

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc_5604.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/dsc_5604_crop.jpg

(photos courtesy Bruce Murdock)

And yet more photos:

Rick & Paul carrying the Booster section from assembly building to the launch tower

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture120.jpg

Loading the Booster section into the launch tower

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture126.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture133.jpg

Preparing to attach forward section to the Booster

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture136.jpg

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture137.jpg

Forward Avionics package

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture156.jpg

Rick preparing Aft Avionics while Paul follows procedure with checklist

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture164.jpg

Chris & Rick prepping Forward Avionics

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture189.jpg

Closeup of Forward Avionics package:

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/picture195.jpg

(photos courtesy Ed Holyoke)

Video of MiniSShot-2 flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1D2tBP4QJc

(video courtesy Dave Griffith)

At this point in time, only very preliminary analysis of flight data has been performed.
Adrian Adamson has so far taken a cursory look at the Parrot data and writes:

'The axial accel doesn't show any sign of trouble, but the lateral accel is definitely ramping
up before the event. It's as if there were a

sudden onset of aerodynamic instability leading to excessive angle of attack and the airframe
crumpled and burst. There was one event during the coast between burns that shows up in
both accel axes about 16 seconds into the flight.'

Hans Olaf Toft also has taken a quick look, so far, at the Main Computer/Chute Controller data.
Of particular interest is the motor

chamber pressure data. Hans provided the following graph of the 2nd phase burn:

http://sugarshot.org/downloads/chamberpressure.gif

The burn can be seen to be nominal right up to the 20.7 second mark, when the curve
suddenly truncates followed by erratic 'noise'. This is likely indicative of the point when
the sensor leads broke as the Recovery Bay fractured, separating the avionics from the
Booster.

A huge thank-you goes out to all those who participated in the MSS-2 launch event,
in particular, the ground/launch crew and trackers. A job well done!