Build Your Own Saturn V 219
Illbay writes "Space.com has a great story about a company in Colorado that has introduced an incredibly detailed scale model of the Saturn V rocket booster that flies a lot like the real thing! Apogee Components has "taken the time to research the actual vehicles and then used that information correctly in creating the kits," with a scientist from the team that designed the Delta 2 rocket on staff. I remember the old Estes model rocket version of the Saturn V back in the 60s, but they were not very detailed and very difficult to get to fly properly. Looks like Apogee might have a winner."
Scale (Score:4, Funny)
"It's just a matter of scale as far as the rockets are concerned. The laws of physics don't change,"
Try telling that to a 2-atom-wide model rocket.
The laws of physics are a tad different on the quantum scale.
Re:Scale (Score:3, Interesting)
The model might end up being less than 100 atoms across, though I doubt it. I
Re:Scale (Score:2)
If the intent is to have a flyable model rocket, with any appreciable range, it will have to be considerably bigger than 500 atoms. It will have to contain considerable fuel and reaction mass, and it will also have t
Re:Scale (Score:4, Interesting)
The laws might not change, but the constants in the equations do. Specifically, air is much 'more viscous' for a model, after all, if the model is 1/70th the scale, then the atmospehere it's going in should be 1/70th of a bar.
Also the drag coefficient of everything doesn't scale properly. It's really a question of scalability, and I think the IT crowd of all people should understnad that.
Re:Scale (Score:5, Funny)
No, you can't. I won't Bohr you with the details of why you're wrong (or at least about 50 years out of date).
--
Evan
Re:Scale (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Scale (Score:2, Offtopic)
And that was the sound of *my* joke going right over your head (hint: electrons don't orbit - in fact, they don't move in the classic macroscopic sense. That's why the whole "nucleus with the electrons orbiting around it", i.e., the Bohr model, has been abandoned for many decades now. Thus a single atom is *not* a model of the solar system).
Sigh. I had to explain it. I knew I would. And the guy who got it and corrected you by pointing out that I misspelled 'Bore' is now moderated -1, Troll.
-
No kidding? (Score:2)
I'm fairly sure that this rocket doesn't have scales, though... (g/d/r).
Very interesting (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Very interesting (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Actually its only 363 feet or so vertically - you should be safe in the capsule on the top of the damn thing without getting pulverized.
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
This is only because the shuttle's launch system sprays massive amounts of water a few feet above the launch pad to diffuse the sound reflected from the ground. Without this system, the sound waves reflecting up from the launch pad would destroy the shuttle.
Here's a link with more info: Sound Suppression Water System [nasa.gov]
Re:Very interesting (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
I'm not saying that the 3 mi is the minimum safe distance for hearing a launch. I'm just saying that 3 mi is the distance NASA determined to be the cutoff for spectators to be, who don't have any reason to be close other than to say "ooo, that looks cool." This distance was set, according to the tour guide I had at KSC at any rate, by acoustic levels at launch. (IIRC; I didn't actually verify the distance, but that's what I remember anyway.)
Re:Very interesting (Score:5, Interesting)
This will kill you in a few milliseconds.
140db->deaf after a hour or so
160db->deaf at once
180db->danger of internal injurie, blood vessel ruptures, ect
200db-> RIP
This ofcource is only true if this noise level is reached where you are. If the 200db are 1meter below the thrusters, and you are 250m away, you may only get 150or so and still be alive and kicking.
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
On an almost-related note regarding the possible future use of military technology audio, apparently the inventor of the world's funniest and lethal joke has disappeared and is assumed to be working for terrorist organizations. Be careful what you listen to, people, this [intriguing.com] could happen to you!
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
I said the sound level at the POSITION OF THE EFFECTED PERSON counts.
Else i could say: What, a rocket makes noise? I havent heard the sound here in germany, so it cant be loud....
And there is a certain way to gauge the physical loudness of sound: db. 1bell=log(P/10^-12W/m^2), meaning at 10db, you have 10^-12 w/m^2, at 120db 1W/w^2 (cant effect your body).
And if the air around your body has 200db, then it has 100MW/m^2 energy density. Thnink about what happens if even
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Hey, if you calculate how much energy you would need to keep a sound level of 160 db in 1km distance- it would be REALLY REALLY much
Remember, Bells are logaritmic (Score:2)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Ummm... they do know the Saturn V launched manned missions, right?
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
rj
good ol' dangerous days (Score:2, Insightful)
1. We shot rockets to the moon (whose side effects could apparently kill you)
2. We had really powerful pesticides like DDT (although it could kil you too.)
3. We had extra heavy and powerful cars like the dart that really did intimidate (although getting into a simple crash could kill you).
Apparently everything tended to build character in those days. It's a testament I suppose to the advancements in technology that we don't 'build character' as much anymore
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
rj
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
We actuatlly saw the bald eagle (and not just its nest), quite a few 'gators, some burrowing tortoises and quite a
Re:Very interesting (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Baffles me I tell ya.
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Very interesting (Score:2)
Re:I saw [multiple] Saturn V launch[es] myself. (Score:2)
Nope.
Can you believe all the idiocy people are slagging around about that bird? Yeah, I grew up just south of PAFB, had both parents who worked out there, and watched 'em all (excepting Apollo 17 and Skylab, I was off in Hawaii playing tag with 10 meter waves), and NONE of what them mopes are yapping about is on the mark. You're the ONLY one so far that seems to have so much as HALF a handle on the sonic effects (The doodybird above pasting in unchecked "facts" about
Re:I saw [multiple] Saturn V launch[es] myself. (Score:2, Interesting)
Looks like we were neighbors - my dad was stationed at PAFB in the early/mid 70's, at the radar site at the corner of A1A and Pineda Causeway. I saw all of the post-Apollo 11 launches, all the Skylab launches, have seen probably about half of the Shuttle launches, and was unfortunately in Rockledge watching when the Challenge
Re:I saw a Saturn V launch myself. (Score:2, Funny)
World's first (Score:5, Funny)
"It's small step for man, a giant step for Mini Me" -- Dr. Evil
what a troll (Score:4, Funny)
And I was getting all hot under the collar thinking about maybe pulling up in my model Vue tomorrow with 24's spinning, music flaring, DVD's behind the sear in a pimperrific three piece fohsachee suit, and you're talking about a rocket.
I thought you meant the car damnit
Not for long (Score:5, Informative)
URGENT NEWS ABOUT MODEL ROCKETRY!
The new Homeland Security Act has many provisions that threaten rocketry in the United States. Both small rockets and high power models are affected. We need your help to make rocketry legal again. Please write your State's Senator now. Click Here for more information. [apogeerockets.com]
If the video on that page becomes slashdotted, go here [space-rockets.com]Please Help Save Model Rocketry (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.saverocketrynow.org/ [saverocketrynow.org]
Re:Not for long (Score:3, Funny)
geek gear [wabshirts.com]
Re:Not for long (Score:4, Funny)
Oh I'm going to be modded down for this one
Why build your own Saturn? (Score:2, Funny)
Mirror (Score:2, Informative)
Model Rocketry Is In Trouble (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Model Rocketry Is In Trouble (Score:2)
Not really true .... (Score:3, Insightful)
Modern hobby rockets (like I and many others fly) do one thing well (and not even that) - they go up. We have wonderfull guidance devices called 'fins' they make things go straight provided they are fast enough and there's still air around - even then you're at the mercy of the wind, the jet stream as you pass thru it (yes we do) etc etc.
In other words hobby rockets don't hav
Re:Not really true .... (Score:2)
You are right, though, and I think we're all agreed that this is a stupid, paranoid law to cover the backs of stupid, paranoid people, where the ones NOT affected are terrorists and the ones that are are the hobbyists and the American private sector.
Re:Not really true .... (Score:2)
Think of the neat sound effects, of a rocket spinning at an audible number of cycles per second, when hitting mach 1!
If you could vary the rate of rotation just right, you could even get it to play an MP3. Nark off the US Govt -and- the RIAA at the same time!
(Yeah, yeah, I know, it's not practical. None of my ideas are. But that's half the fun!)
Re:Model Rocketry Is In Trouble (Score:2)
Something has to be off when the Patriot Act republicans and the anti-gun democrats vehemently agree on something.
Slashdotting's effect on sales? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Slashdotting's effect on sales? (Score:2)
Reasons why I'm not impressed: (Score:4, Interesting)
2) One stage. The Saturn V has 3 stages. This one, and all of the injection-molded toys before it, were only 1 stage. Where's the fun in that?
3) Injection molding. Where's the work in that?
Re:Reasons why I'm not impressed: (Score:2)
Re:Reasons why I'm not impressed: (Score:2, Informative)
Obviously you're not a model rocketeer:) There are several reasons for using solid rocket motors in this kit:
Re:Reasons why I'm not impressed: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Reasons why I'm not impressed: (Score:2)
Good ol' rocket days (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Good ol' rocket days (Score:4, Funny)
Estes rocket not detailed ? (Score:2, Interesting)
I NEED one of these (Score:2)
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:2)
Oh the rocket memories this brings back. But if I built it, it would probably be just like the most complex kit I ever built, the Estes Bomarc. I spent weeks making it absolutely perfect
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:2)
On the other hand, I now seem to have more than enough time on my hands to finish it. Maybe I'll bust out the ole' glue tube out again. And put some in a bag.
(inhales deeply)
-Brett
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:3, Interesting)
Anyway, the coolest rocket I ever built was also the last kit I ever built, a very simple design of a 2-stage ro
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:2)
I found a site that offers plans for almost all the Estes rockets, if you want to build one from raw parts, or just gawk at the complex instructions that stumped me when I was just a little kid.
http://www.dars.org/jimz/estes.htm
Unfortu n atel
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:2)
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:2)
Re:I NEED one of these (Score:5, Funny)
We brought it down to the field at the end of the street. When it launched, it quickly shot up to about twelve(yes 12) feet and begun spinning in circles wildly in place at first then right towards us. Just missed my brother as he dove behind the dirt mound that it slammed into and shattered all my hard work.
Probably my poor construction that caused the misfire. And what a range of emotions in those few quick moments:
Surprise -> Scared Shitless -> Elation -> Sadness
Speaking of the Sadness after the crash, I just thought I'd mention this as I just remembered and it made me laugh again. A few years later my brother got into model airplane building. These things were a Ton of work. He brought his plane down to the elementary school as they had a nice wide open space. About 15 seconds into flight it banks left and smashes into a tree completely wasting it. He builds a second plane, back to school, 15 seconds, smashes into side of school.
Build your own Saturn V cheaper! (Score:5, Funny)
Speaking of Estes... (Score:2)
Re:Speaking of Estes... (Score:3, Interesting)
This was like 10 years ago, the engines were a tad bit under powered and expensive. I think that plane took about 5 months and $6000 with engines and all to put together. It flew fine, but couldn't do any fancy manouvers.
not really a jet (Score:3, Informative)
that said, there *are* RC jets. They're hideously expensive and tempermental and so fast as to be very difficult to fly. Only extremely experienced fanatics can build and fly them.
This company [microjeteng.com] builds actual micro jet engines.
The russians will get there first .... (Score:2)
Still good in the rerun (Score:4, Interesting)
Anyway, it's worth the trip to follow the links to the website of the people who make this thing. There are some fantastic MPEG clips of flights of this model that (were, maybe not are) available for download.
Why is it so cool to watch a model fly? Check it out and see. The thing is so big nad heavy it "lifts off" just like a "real" rocket. None of this 3-2-1 disappear in a puff of smoke. You actually get several frames of liftoff before it really picks up speed... very cool.
This explains it (Score:2, Funny)
scaled servers (Score:3, Funny)
mirrors please?
booster models (Score:4, Interesting)
Standing ~40 inches (1.0 meters) tall and weighing about 10 kilograms (quite chubby) at launch...
If the scale doesnt matter in laws of physics one can expect a useful payload to be ~ 100t/60^3 ~ 460grams ~ 1 pound to be launched to low orbits, and about 100 grams to the geostationary orbit, and about 150 grams to be sent on the lunar mission trajectory.Re:booster models (Score:2)
how about a 1x scale version (Score:3, Interesting)
NASA needs something to launch big heavy payloads into space. The shuttles are ok, but a unmanned vehicle would be extremely useful for shipping new sections to the ISS or a hubble replacement.
Re:how about a 1x scale version (Score:2)
IIRC they need 3-4 Saturn Vs (Score:2)
Well... (Score:2)
As for the Govt rules against rocketry - this is hardly a surprise. I'm amazed it didn't occur much sooner. There's a certain paranoia about aircraft being blown out the sky, or "rogue" nations developing new rocket technology.
However, since the same Government publishes software on how to simulate and design remotly operated vehicles, and since the Australian Govt was quite OK with budget cruise missile plans
Re:Well... (Score:2)
Payload.... (Score:2)
Mortars tend to be more favored than rockets by terrorists (they are easier to aim, and can carry more payload as the fuel doesn't go up with it). I have no issues on restrictions on where rocketry can be practiced, but it really doesn't need any further controls until we talk about payloads of a kg or more.
Re:Payload.... (Score:2)
Britain has far more experience on terrorism than the US, and I honestly don't recall rockets ever being a significant component. Mortars, yes -- and they were amazingly inaccurate.
By far the nastiest type of weapon used by terrorists in the UK was also one of the most trivial. A simple bomb with a timer, dropped in a bin somewhere. It got to the point, in the UK, where bins were simply removed from crowded areas and those that were left were heavily reinforced with mult
Here is a image (Score:2, Informative)
Just from reading the Slashdot headline... (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Rocket Simulation Software is also available (Score:3, Informative)
Our problem has been in finding good places to launch. We get rained out alot from local rocket club launches and its hard to find places to shoot on our own. We sometimes sneak over to nearby schools with their large playgrounds early on Sunday mornings to launch. Risky in post 9/11 USA.
Going to local rocket club launches is also fun. Not only can you shoot your own rockets off but you can watch the big and experimental rockets launching.
A good source of beginner rockets and hybrid motors for the big boys is Pratt Hobbies. www.pratthobbies.com.
Where can I buy.. (Score:2)
Come on folks... it wasn't that long ago... (Score:2)
Last time I looked the final launch of a Saturn V was in November 1973 (40th Anniversary coming up. Embarassing one possibly). I'm 46 and I witnessed a launch back in 1971... so you don't have to be that old to have seen one...
No guidance - uninteresting (Score:2)
It would be cool to have one with a guidance system. Then you could have a slow, realistic liftoff, with the vehicle balanced on its rockets.
Re:No guidance - uninteresting (Score:2)
Click here [earthlink.net] for video of a model rocket builder who successfully launched a gyro-guided rocket. His rocket goes straight up, even on windy days. His control system is simple and cheap. The Gyroc [sdf-eu.org] model rocket also has good active stabilization. Watch the video. This is a slow launch in a high wind. The rocket is being blown sideways, but continues to point upward at all times.
The re
Re:Scaling it up?? (Score:3, Funny)
Now ain't that an unfortunate choice of words!
Re:Scaling it up?? (Score:2)
The launch pads themselves survive
blueprints are not lost (Score:2, Informative)
Re:blueprints are not lost (Score:5, Funny)
In years past, rumors have abounded that in the 1970s the White House or Congress had the Saturn 5 plans destroyed "to prevent the technology from falling into the wrong hands".
That seems doubtful -- it would be a formidable terrorist group that decided to build a Saturn 5 to wreak havoc on the world, or build a lunar base..
There is only one such group. Picture Blofelt sitting in a chair stroking a cat. "Ah, Mr Bond, we've been expecting you.."
Saturn V As ICBM -- It Did Happen (On TV!) (Score:2)
Though your comment brings up an interesting fact -- there was one episode of Star Trek which actually uses the Saturn V as an intercontinental ballistic missile. The episode, Assignment: Earth [ericweisstein.com], contains spliced-in footage from the launch of the very first Saturn V, the Apollo 4 systems verificaation test. (The episode was aired in early 1968, before Apollo 8's lau
Re:Laws of physics DO change on small scale (Score:2)
Re:Laws of physics DO change on small scale (Score:2)
Now as you go towards the center of the earth, the mass above you will have a gravity pull on you as well as the mass below you, so at the center of the earth, you would float. You would ha
Apogee? (Score:2)
Re:It won't be long now... (Score:2)