Morningstar

Friday, 26 May 2000
I don't know if you would call this a clone or not. It is based on the Estes Broadsword ( or Super Big Bertha if you prefer ) but has quite a few modifications. First of which is a 29mm motor mount. Next all the centering rings and fins are basswood. The aftmost CR is 1/4" thick to support the motor retention system. There is an extra CR to support the TTW fins and the forwardmost CR is an ejection baffle and recovery system anchor. It has a 5' TN shock cord and and 18" nylon chute. I have never glassed a tube and thought about making this my first attempt but chickened out. I'd have to watch someone do this first. It is rapidly approaching the t op of the construction queue. I hope to fly it sometime this summer. As to the name, I wanted a serious name for a serious rocket and all the variations on Big Bertha I could think of just didn't fit. I thought a more serious form of a Broadsword called for the name of a fighting sword that was bigger and more powerful. So it was this or "Two-handed Bastard".
Tuesday, 6 June 2000
Construction is underway on this project. I got the baffle ring, rear bulkhead, and centering rings ready to go and the BT has been cut for the TTWTTMMT fins. I just need to get the motor tube and I'll be able to build up the fin can.
Tuesday, 13 June 2000
Almost ready to go! All I lack is priming and painting.

Morningstar Flights (2)
Date Flight #Motors Motor ISP Description
10/18/2003 80 1 G40-4T SU 120 First flight for this rocket. Installed the SU motor using a masking tape thrust ring. A double wrap seemed to work just fine. The four sec delay seemed to eject right at or a little before apogee. Descent was a little fast on the 24 in. chute. Recovered SW about .5 miles by Dr. Gelb. Witnessed RickÕs shred while walking back.
2/7/2004 86 1 G64-10W RMS 120 Interesting wiggle on ascent. The 10 second delay is way to long. Descent was good but the end of the airframe was dented on impact.

Total ISP: 240 newton-seconds

Average ISP: 120.00 newton-seconds

Morningstar Flights (2)
Date	Flight	#Motors	Motor	ISP	Description
10/18/2003	80	1	G40-4T SU	120	First flight for this rocket. Installed the SU motor using a masking tape thrust ring. A double wrap seemed to work just fine. The four sec delay seemed to eject right at or a little before apogee. Descent was a little fast on the 24 in. chute. Recovered SW about .5 miles by Dr. Gelb. Witnessed RickÕs shred while walking back.
2/7/2004	86	1	G64-10W RMS	120	Interesting wiggle on ascent. The 10 second delay is way to long. Descent was good but the end of the airframe was dented on impact.

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Total ISP:	240 newton-seconds
Average ISP:	120.00 newton-seconds