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(Click on the photos on this page for a larger image and
additional comments.)
This rocket had a very short life only making 4 flights during 2005. It took me many months to design and build Focal Point II because of its complexity. It was an attempt to design a rocket that would actively stop the rocket from rolling.
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This project was built in 2005 and was my first attempt at a high power two stage rocket. The 4" rocket had four 38mm motors in the first stage and a 54mm motor mount in the upper stage.
The payload section used the Photosonics 1VN and this rocket was to be used as the replacement for BDCR.
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The anti roll device incorporated a sensor around the rocket to detect the Suns position then adjust these servos to lock the position of the rocket to the Sun. The servos moved flaps on the fins to stop the roll of the rocket. |
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These sensors detected the position of the Sun and was feed into a circuit to adjust the servos. The circuit had feedback to try to anticipate the roll rate.
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The electronics bay with the batteries and anti roll circuit.
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The other side of the electronics had the DCS to record the roll data.
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A shot of the linkages at the bottom of the motor mount.
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This sensor detected when the rocket left the rail to start the sensor input. This was necessary to prevent the rocket from trying to move while still on the rail.
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The final flight of the Focal Point II. I used unproven electronics which turned out to be extremely costly.
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