2024-2025

Fin Construction and Smokeless Powder Testing Begins

Construction is underway in HPR! Over the past couple weeks we've finished building our fins, following the custom balsa wood/carbon fiber/fiberglass composite material design that the NCSSM HPR team has used over the past couple years. Our fin shape was laser cut in-house in NCSSM Fabrication Lab onto quarter-inch balsa wood, and 3D printed edge pieces were epoxied on. Then, layers of carbon fiber and fiberglass were placed over one side of the fins, and they were coated in epoxy and vacuum-sealed in a food-preserver bag to dry. Once dried, excess material was cut and sanded flush with the balsa wood/PLA fin shape, and the process will be repeated on the other side.

Meanwhile, we've also begun work on our smokeless powder testing! We've created mock-ejection charges and a mock-body tube, in which we're testing 1 gram quantities of black powder and smokeless powder. Filming the setting off of the charges in the tubes, we're able to measure the acceleration of the body tube separation, so we'll be able to compare the smokeless powder to the black powder. Then, we'll visually analyze the separated body tube to determine the difference in residue left by the powders.

Additionally, payload materials have arrived, and members have started work assembling their payloads!

As we wrap up the first semester, we couldn't be happier with our progress so far, and we can't wait to continue construction during J-Term!

HPR Hosts NCSU Rocketry Team

This past Wednesday, 11/20, HPR was happy to host the NC State Rocketry team! They brought a couple of their recent rockets and discussed what rocketry looked like in college. We heard from their team about their process for NASA student launch through NC State's senior design program, as well as the recent projects done by the WolfWorks Experimental rocketry sub-team, such as rolling their own body tubes and building a square rocket.

It was a great opportunity and we're so grateful the NCSU rocketry team took the time to visit!

HPR Fall Launch!

This past weekend, on Sunday, October 20th, HPR drove out to Bayboro NC for a fall re-launch of last year's rocket, Cardinal. On a J500 motor, Cardinal flew around 2845 feet! We launched two of last year's payloads, the atmospheric data collection and camera, and we look forward to analyzing that data. It was a beautiful day for a launch, and with around 20 HPR members in attendance, probably the largest HPR launch in the club's history. We were happy to be joined by two of our alum, last year's captains, David and Max.

With our fall launch, we were able to get our new junior members hands-on experience with a high-powered rocketry launch. We can't be more excited to build this year's new rocket!

Congrats to Erin, Michael, and Spencer on their Level 1 Certifications!

Three rocketry members, including one of our HPR Captains, launched their NAR Level 1 Certification rockets at our HPR Bayboro Fall Launch!

Erin launched Green Bean on an H130 to a height of ~2400 feet! Spencer's rocket, Jack, flew to 2087 feet on an H165 motor. And finally, Space Z, Michael's rocket flew to 856 feet on an H130.

We're so proud of all of our members on their Level 1 Certifications!

Airframe Design Selected and Preparations Continue for Fall Launch

We've finalized what our airframe design will (for the most part!) look like for this year's rocket! Standing at 74.072" tall, this year's rocket will feature 5 motors; a J500 central motor and four H180 surrounding motors.

We will have three research payloads this year. First, our rocket will have sensors to monitor the magnetic field and radiation levels in the atmosphere as the rocket ascends, we will be able to see how the radiation and Earth's magnetic field evolves with altitude. Next, we will have a gyroscope payload, to monitor the rocket's tilt and rotation during flight. Since this year's rocket will feature cluster motors, rocket orientation is incredibly important, so this payload will help a successful launch. Finally, we'll have an onboard camera recording a launch video onto an SD Card!

Aside from work designing this year's rocket and payloads, HPR has also been busy getting ready for Fall Launch. We've been repairing Cardinal's Payloads and just recently tested our ejection charges so we're ready to go on October 20th!

HPR Meetings Begin!

HPR is so excited to be back! Over the past month, HPR has been busy learning OpenRocket, submitting payload proposals, and getting ready to begin smokeless powder testing! This year we're planning a cluster motor rocket with the potential of using smokeless powder for our ejection charges, on top of our member-driven payloads. Now that payload proposals are in, we're moving forward with feasibility reports and working on airframe design. In October, we're planning a Fall Re-Launch of our last year's rocket, Cardinal!