From the Australian Space Engineering and Research Association Ltd. Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 2, April 1992. AUSROC II Second Static Firing Mark Blair ------------------------------ The second round of static firings were held on the 14/15th March at the Ravenhall Static Test Facility in Deer Park, Melbourne. The improved aluminium propellant tanks performed flawlessly during the water flow tests and the firing trials, thus making amends for the kerosene tank failure during the first round of tests. These trials did not go without problems however. During the first test, the liquid oxygen ball valve did not open fully due to moisture freezing around the ball. This resulted in an insufficient quantity of lox reaching the chamber and, hence, erratic burning. The motor was disassembled on the Saturday night, cleaned out, dried and refurbished for a Sunday firing. During the first attempt at the second firing the countdown went smoothly, the ignition flare ignited in sequence but the main propellant valves did not open. The power supply that operated the valve solenoids had failed at the most inopportune time. A spare power supply was used to solve that problem and a new ignition flare was inserted into the motor. The lox valve had a small leak which was solved in-situ by retensioning the vlave bolts. The repeat firing successfully generated 9.7 kN thrust. The burn time was only 8 seconds on this occasion, due to a tank filling error. Lox (at 90 K) is not a simple liquid to handle. New filling procedures will be used during future trials. Since numerous problems still surfaced during this second round of static trials, it was decided to undertake a third round of trials on the 25/26th April. By then we should have ironed out most problems. Again, thanks should be given to all sponsors who generously provided the equipment and propellants for these motor firings. The Ausroc II motor is probably the largest liquid rocket motor designed, manufactured and tested in this country and much is owed to the institutions and companies supporting the program. AUSROC III Mark Blair ---------- The University year in now well under way. The project allocation list gives a good indication of the university involvement and magnitude of the Ausroc III program. Projects are currently being undertaken in all states except Tasmania and Northern Territory. (Hopefully we'll be Australia wide by 1993.) The second Ausroc conference has been tentatively programmed for the 9-11th December, 1992 at the University of South Australia, Levels Campus. It is hoped to have research papers presented by most of those in the project allocations listed here. 1992 Project Allocation Listing PROPULSION SYSTEM Rocket Motor M. Blair (DSTO) (08) 287 0078 Injector & Igniter W. Williams (DSTO) (08) 259 6161 Mounts, Valves, & Plumbing unallocated Roll Control Thrusters J. Dimaggio (HDHV) J. Balatsas (HDHV) (03) 647 6611 Static Test Facilities R. Blomfield (ARE) (03) 890 6237 M. Blair (DSTO) (08) 287 0078 COMPOSITE STRUCTURES Propellant & Helium Tanks Adelaide University (?) Fairings unallocated Nose Cone Stephen Mitchell (076) 33 1856 CONTROL SYSTEM Autopilot Electronics & S/W M. Telfer (Monash) (03) 573 2119 A. Burridge (Monash) A. Coia (Monash) Inertial Navigation System A. Cheers (Ardebil) (03) 561 8654 M. Pszczel (DSTO) (08) 259 5629 J. Bajo (USA) (619) 429 7577 Motor Gimball System G. Koennecker (ARL) (08) 259 5635 E. Semple (Adelaide U.) SYSTEMS ANALYSIS Aerodynamic Analysis N. O'shea (RMIT) (03) 758 0805 Dynamics R. Koning (RMIT) (03) 703 2063 Trajectory Simulation A. Cheers (Ardebil) (03) 561 8654 P. Wilson (QUT) (07) 223 2427 T. Winks (QUT) 3D Computer Modelling unallocated Systems Engineering Analysis M. Blair (DSTO) (08) 259 5316 System Reliability Analysis unallocated FLIGHT ELECTRONICS Master Control System J. Coleman (03) 729 5538 Sensor Data Acquisition S. Pietrobon (U.SA) (08) 302 3863 S. Kerrisk (U.SA) G. Hermann (U.SA) Telemetry unallocated Power Supply Circuits unallocated EXPERIMENT PAYLOAD (ASERA) Microgravity unallocated Imaging Remote Sensor I. French (ASERA) (062) 68 8882 Upper Atmospheric Sounding unallocated Payload Recovery System P. Siaw (RMIT) (03) 890 8183 GROUND SUPPORT Telemetry unallocated Data Reduction Analysis D. Kamp (09) 377 5811 Launch Control Sequencer T. Chen (Ardebil) (03) 561 8654 Launch Infrastructure P. Pemberton (USQ) (076) 31 2541 J. Durack (USQ) A. Reid (USQ) D. Miller (USQ) F. Naseasi (USQ) F. Jacobsen (USQ) RANGE SAFETY Impact Prediction & Tracking P. Wilson (QUT) (07) 223 2427 Az.El. Optical Tracker J. Tang (QUT) Flight Termination System M. Blair (DSTO) (08) 287 0078 Range Safety Issues H. Bromfield (ARE) (03) 890 6237 NON-TECHNICAL ISSUES Legal & Insurance K. Ikin (GIO) (02) 228 1327 W. Jones (ASIG) (03) 614 3337 Finance, Aquisitions & Accountg unallocated PUBLIC RELATIONS Information Compilation & M. Blair (08) 287 0078 Distribution ASERA (02) 887 9441 Video & Doc. Archive K. Dougherty (02) 642 7956