Black Widow: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:00, 31 January 2024

Black Widow is a rocket I built in late 2015 / early 2016 to replace Home Alone after its crash in Elsberry. The kit is a Rocketry Warehouse (now Composite Warehouse) Dominator 3, no longer in production. It's very similar in size to Home Alone, but with a different fin shape featuring a curved trailing edge. The kit came with a very nice looking red-anodized nose cone tip and tailcone motor retainer, so I finished it in a black and red color scheme.

I redesigned Black Widow's altimeter bay in 2023.

View from onboard camera.
First liftoff.
Landed in the Argonia dust.

Launches

NARAM 58 (2016), J449

NARAM 58 (2016), K530

Airfest 22 (2016), L1040

Midwest Power 14 (2016), K830

SLRA Fall 2016, K650

NSL East 2023, L1000

Checklist

Pre-launch (before leaving town):

Clean everything!
Charge batteries: Raven LiPo, TeleGPS, TeleBT, old Mobius, pad camera, antenna camera, drill
Clear memory in old Mobius, pad camera, antenna camera
Check TeleGPS config and reset / clear memory
Check Mobius config (correct video mode; sync clock), test and clear memory
Test TeleGPS/TeleBT and leave transmitter battery unplugged
Connect Raven battery (connect the two-pin plugs on the sled with pull-pin removed); check Raven config (set main pyro altitude to 900 feet); disconnect Raven battery
Check contents of recovery pack

Pre-launch (night before launch):

Assemble motor - remove delay charge
Install motor in rocket
Assemble ejection charges (1.5g Goex + wadding) x4
Refold / repack parachute and rubberband

At the field:

Connect Raven battery (connect two-pin plugs with pull-pin removed); verify that Raven lights up and 4 voltage beeps are heard
IMPORTANT: disconnect Raven battery (disconnect two-pin plugs)
Check terminal blocks for voltage
Secure (4) ejection charges in charge wells with electrical tape and connect leads to terminal blocks
Note the direction of the "ARM" label on the switchband to tell which end of the coupler is up. Insert the sled into the coupler from the bottom end. Rotate the sled to align the mark on the coupler with the mark on the bulkhead.
Hold the coupler and aft bulkhead together and insert the pull-pin through the "ARM" hole in the switchband
Visually check that the pull-pin is correctly inserted into the orange switch block inside the coupler
Connect the two-pin plugs at the open end of the coupler. IMPORTANT: there should be no lights and no beeps. If there is any indication that the altimeter has powered up, disconnect the two-pin plugs immediately, disassemble, and check the wiring.
Connect the forward bulkhead's three-pin plug with the plug in the open end of the coupler
Align the forward bulkhead so the mark on the coupler is aligned with the mark on the bulkhead. Secure the forward bulkhead with 1/4" lock washers and hex nuts. Use a 7/16" nut driver to firmly tighten the nuts.
Put a wrap of tape around the pull-pin and switchband to ensure that the pull-pin doesn't come out during the rest of the assembly.
Attach the aft shock cord / nomex between aft airframe & coupler
Pack drogue streamer & attach to aft shock cord
Insert coupler into aft airframe with silver marks aligned; check / adjust friction fit
Attach forward shock cord / nomex to coupler
Thread forward shock cord through forward airframe and slide tube onto coupler with silver marks aligned; attach with plastic rivets
Bundle forward shock cord w/masking tape
Attach main parachute to forward shock cord
IMPORTANT: if the parachute was pre-packed and has a rubber band, remove the rubber band
Stow the parachute and forward shock cord in the upper airframe; it should slide in easily
Connect TeleGPS battery and switch TeleBT on, check for comm & GPS lock
Assemble nose cone with lock washer and eye nut
Attach forward shock cord to nose cone
Fit nose cone to upper airframe with silver marks aligned; install shear pins
Verify that TeleGPS is still transmitting
To RSO / pad with rocket, pad camera & recovery pack

At the pad:

Place pad camera and start recording (short press of big button on top)
Switch on-board camera on (short press of top button as rocket sits on pad, LED solid amber), REMOVE LENS CAP & start recording (short press of bottom button as rocket sits on pad, LED blinking amber)
Rocket on rail
Remove tape from pull-pin, and pull the pull-pin
CHECK FOR PROPER NUMBER OF CHARGE CONTINUITY BEEPS [HI-HI-HI-HI]
- Apo-Main-Backup Apo-Backup Main...High=connected, low=disconnected
Insert igniter into motor
Check launch control leads for spark; connect leads to igniter
Return to LCO
Verify that TeleGPS still has GPS lock and is transmitting - if not, ask LCO to hold launch
Go For Launch! Turn on the antenna camera and start recording

Recovery:

Establish that TeleGPS is reporting a good landing position for the rocket
Turn off antenna camera
Return to the launch pad, retrieve the pad camera and turn it off
Drive / walk to the rocket's landing position
Immediately upon approaching the rocket, put the pull-pin back into the "ARM" hole in the switchband
IMPORTANT: determine whether there are any unfired ejection charges in the charge wells, if so, double check that the altimeter is powered off (no beeping)
Turn off the Mobius camera
Gather everything up. It may be easiest to disconnect the parachute from the forward shock cord and put it into the recovery pack so the rest of the rocket can more easily be reassembled and carried in one piece
If there are unfired ejection charges, they should be removed as soon as practical, either at the landing point, at the vehicle, or back in the prep area
As soon as possible, open the nose cone and disconnect the battery from the TeleGPS
Remove motor, remove the spent liner from the case and clean the case

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
   |weight       = 11 lbs. 9 oz. (5.2 kg)
   |motor-size   = 54mm
-  |flights      = 5
+  |flights      = 6
   |max-altitude = 13570 feet AGL (TeleGPS) (4136 m)
   |max-speed    = 1325 ft/sec (903 mph, Mach 1.18) (Raven, accelerometer)
-  |status       = [[Black Widow (altimeter bay redesign)|Being refitted]]
+  |status       = Ready to fly
   |simfile      = https://github.com/DanCrank/openrocket-sim-files/blob/master/BlackWidow.ork
 }}
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 Black Widow is a rocket I built in late 2015 / early 2016 to replace [[Home Alone]] after [[2015 Launch Reports#Home Alone, L990|its crash in Elsberry]]. The kit is a Rocketry Warehouse (now Composite Warehouse) Dominator 3, no longer in production. It's very similar in size to Home Alone, but with a different fin shape featuring a curved trailing edge. The kit came with a very nice looking red-anodized nose cone tip and tailcone motor retainer, so I finished it in a black and red color scheme.
-<gallery mode="packed">
+I [[Black Widow (altimeter bay redesign)|redesigned Black Widow's altimeter bay]] in 2023.
+<gallery mode="slideshow">
 File:NARAM58-looking-up.png|View from onboard camera.|alt=Frame from onboard camera looking down at two men, while the rocket is on the launch pad.
 File:NARAM58-blue-streak.jpg|First liftoff.|alt=Frame from pad camera showing a black rocket lifting off with a bright blue flame.
@@ Line 31: / Line 33: @@
 [[2016 Launch Reports#Black Widow, K650|SLRA Fall 2016, K650]]
+[[2023 Launch Reports#Black Widow flight #6, L1000|NSL East 2023, L1000]]
 == Checklist ==
-(This checklist will change somewhat due to the [[Black Widow (altimeter bay redesign)|redesign project]].)
 Pre-launch (before leaving town):
 * Clean everything!
-* Charge batteries: TeleGPS, TeleBT, BRB transmitter, all cameras, Mobius, ham transceiver, drill
+* Charge batteries: Raven LiPo, TeleGPS, TeleBT, old Mobius, pad camera, antenna camera, drill
-* Clear memory in cameras
+* Clear memory in old Mobius, pad camera, antenna camera
 * Check TeleGPS config and reset / clear memory
 * Check Mobius config (correct video mode; sync clock), test and clear memory
 * Test TeleGPS/TeleBT and leave transmitter battery unplugged
-* Install new Duracell battery for Raven; check Raven config (set main pyro altitude to 900 feet); switch OFF and remove battery
+* Connect Raven battery (connect the two-pin plugs on the sled with pull-pin removed); check Raven config (set main pyro altitude to 900 feet); disconnect Raven battery
 * Check contents of recovery pack
@@ Line 51: / Line 53: @@
 * Assemble ejection charges (1.5g Goex + wadding) x4
 * Refold / repack parachute and rubberband
-Chute is folded in quarter lengthwise, then gores folded in in quarters and laid on top, then chute folded / rolled across. Bundle should end up approx. 13.5" long with gores on the inside and should be thin enough to easily slide into tube.
 At the field:
-* Install Raven battery; verify that green "safe" lamp is lit, and zip-tie battery to sled
+* Connect Raven battery (connect two-pin plugs with pull-pin removed); verify that Raven lights up and 4 voltage beeps are heard
-* Switch Raven on to test; verify that red "armed" lamp is lit while Raven is on and 8-9 voltage beeps are heard. Switch Raven off.
+* IMPORTANT: disconnect Raven battery (disconnect two-pin plugs)
 * Check terminal blocks for voltage
 * Secure (4) ejection charges in charge wells with electrical tape and connect leads to terminal blocks
+* Note the direction of the "ARM" label on the switchband to tell which end of the coupler is up. Insert the sled into the coupler from the bottom end. Rotate the sled to align the mark on the coupler with the mark on the bulkhead.
-Pay special attention to orientation of the sled in the coupler when assembling. The arming switch must be aligned with the designated access hole, and the "up" end of the sled must be aligned with the "up" end of the coupler.
+* Hold the coupler and aft bulkhead together and insert the pull-pin through the "ARM" hole in the switchband
+* Visually check that the pull-pin is correctly inserted into the orange switch block inside the coupler
-* Insert sled into coupler, attach forward bulkhead plug and assemble coupler with lock washers and hex nuts
+* Connect the two-pin plugs at the open end of the coupler. IMPORTANT: there should be no lights and no beeps. If there is any indication that the altimeter has powered up, disconnect the two-pin plugs immediately, disassemble, and check the wiring.
-* Attach aft shock cord / nomex between booster & coupler
+* Connect the forward bulkhead's three-pin plug with the plug in the open end of the coupler
-* Pack drogue & attach to aft shock cord
+* Align the forward bulkhead so the mark on the coupler is aligned with the mark on the bulkhead. Secure the forward bulkhead with 1/4" lock washers and hex nuts. Use a 7/16" nut driver to firmly tighten the nuts.
-* Check / adjust friction fitting between booster & coupler
+* Put a wrap of tape around the pull-pin and switchband to ensure that the pull-pin doesn't come out during the rest of the assembly.
+* Attach the aft shock cord / nomex between aft airframe & coupler
+* Pack drogue streamer & attach to aft shock cord
+* Insert coupler into aft airframe with silver marks aligned; check / adjust friction fit
 * Attach forward shock cord / nomex to coupler
-* Thread forward shock cord through forward section and attach forward section to coupler with rivets
+* Thread forward shock cord through forward airframe and slide tube onto coupler with silver marks aligned; attach with plastic rivets
 * Bundle forward shock cord w/masking tape
 * Attach main parachute to forward shock cord
-* Switch TeleGPS and TeleBT on, check for comm & GPS lock, switch TeleBT off (leave TeleGPS on!)
+* IMPORTANT: if the parachute was pre-packed and has a rubber band, remove the rubber band
+* Stow the parachute and forward shock cord in the upper airframe; it should slide in easily
+* Connect TeleGPS battery and switch TeleBT on, check for comm & GPS lock
 * Assemble nose cone with lock washer and eye nut
 * Attach forward shock cord to nose cone
-* Fit nose cone to payload section, install shear pins
+* Fit nose cone to upper airframe with silver marks aligned; install shear pins
 * Verify that TeleGPS is still transmitting
-* To pad with rocket, pad camera & recovery pack
+* To RSO / pad with rocket, pad camera & recovery pack
 At the pad:
-* Place pad camera
+* Place pad camera and start recording (short press of big button on top)
-* Switch on-board camera on, REMOVE LENS CAP & start recording
+* Switch on-board camera on (short press of top button as rocket sits on pad, LED solid amber), REMOVE LENS CAP & start recording (short press of bottom button as rocket sits on pad, LED blinking amber)
 * Rocket on rail
-* Switch Raven on
+* Remove tape from pull-pin, and pull the pull-pin
 * CHECK FOR PROPER NUMBER OF CHARGE CONTINUITY BEEPS [HI-HI-HI-HI]
-* Apo-Main-Backup Apo-Backup Main...High=connected, low=disconnected
+** Apo-Main-Backup Apo-Backup Main...High=connected, low=disconnected
-* Igniter in motor
+* Insert igniter into motor
-* Igniter leads
+* Check launch control leads for spark; connect leads to igniter
-* Start pad camera
 * Return to LCO
-* Switch TeleBT on and verify that TeleGPS still has GPS lock and is transmitting - if not, ask LCO to hold launch
+* Verify that TeleGPS still has GPS lock and is transmitting - if not, ask LCO to hold launch
-* Go For Launch
+* Go For Launch! Turn on the antenna camera and start recording
+Recovery:
+* Establish that TeleGPS is reporting a good landing position for the rocket
+* Turn off antenna camera
+* Return to the launch pad, retrieve the pad camera and turn it off
+* Drive / walk to the rocket's landing position
+* Immediately upon approaching the rocket, put the pull-pin back into the "ARM" hole in the switchband
+* IMPORTANT: determine whether there are any unfired ejection charges in the charge wells, if so, double check that the altimeter is powered off (no beeping)
+* Turn off the Mobius camera
+* Gather everything up. It may be easiest to disconnect the parachute from the forward shock cord and put it into the recovery pack so the rest of the rocket can more easily be reassembled and carried in one piece
+* If there are unfired ejection charges, they should be removed as soon as practical, either at the landing point, at the vehicle, or back in the prep area
+* As soon as possible, open the nose cone and disconnect the battery from the TeleGPS
+* Remove motor, remove the spent liner from the case and clean the case
 [[Category:Rockets]]