USA vs. USSR Space Race

The Space Race is back!

Well sort of...

This Saturday, 10/19/13, I plan to launch the:

Saturn V on 4x AT F40 + 1x Pro-X J285
and the
Soyuz on 16x Estes D12 + 1x Pro-X G54

to see which gets to the moon first...er..I mean generates the most fire and smoke.

TRF threads:
www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?615...&p=611782#post611782
www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?174...&p=611755#post611755

Hmmm. Drag race ?

That would probably be outside your mission rules. But, if you agree to such an event let me know when you get to the launch on Sat. I'll get the GSE setup and volunteer to spot the recovery of one of these fine birds for you.

-Alan

Boris,

You keep amazing us with incredible flights. Wow!


-Alex

Alan wrote:

Hmmm. Drag race ?

That would probably be outside your mission rules. But, if you agree to such an event let me know when you get to the launch on Sat. I'll get the GSE setup and volunteer to spot the recovery of one of these fine birds for you.

-Alan

Alan,

Thanks for the offer, and for the assistance you have provided at so many launches.

I'm torn on this idea.

Drag race:
> Fits the USA vs. USSR space race theme
> Visually dramatic if they are launched next to each other
> (spoiler alert) Saturn will go higher, might catch good video looking back at Soyuz

Separate launches:
> Each of these flights are a big piece of my time and $ budget (not much of a reason)

Assuming we could temporarily put two HP pads about 10ft apart at C, the visual effect of a clustered HP drag race should be a lot of fun.

Was originally planning separate launches, but after careful analysis of many complex factors, now like the DRAG RACE / SPACE RACE idea because it involves firing more motors at one time!

> Fits the USA vs. USSR space race theme

That was the seed. It seemed to fit so well.

I know you put exact mission planning /prep into each launch, so 2 at a time, I wouldn't want to mess with your methodology since it has worked so well. So its your decision to make. Either way its going to be spectacular !

As far a the GSE, yes, I would put both pad C and pad D on the hill, with rails, both wired back to the LCO as C and D. The only unknown is your cluster box, there is only one. Are you thinking both rockets in parallel on your one cluster box, or C and the cluster box and D on the standard CMASS relay ?

Another thought is to launch separate as you originally intended for the 19-Oct-2013 launch, and we plan this out more for a future launch. That option is a winner too.

-Alan

Houston it's a GO for the space race / drag race...

Targeting about 2pm Saturday launch time.

Can use the one single CMASS launch control channel for pad C to fire both rockets simultaneously:
> CMASS LCO fires channel C, which triggers my cluster box, wired to both rockets.
> I'll bring extra (very low resistance) wire for the task.
> Both rockets combined are 22 igniters, cluster box has fired 30 on several occasions.

Will need two HP pads about 10 ft apart on fireproof blankets:
> one with standard rail
> and one with 1/2 inch rod

I'll do the same flight prep as usual on each rocket, and when they are both ready...

We will re-ignite the SPACE RACE !

Thank you Alan and Alex.