PART 2: AEROTECH ASTROBEE D SOUNDING ROCKET KIT

This kit is manufactured by Aerotech in Las Vegas, Nevada at a retail price of $ 79.95. It can be purchased cheaper from Discount Rocketry at $63.95 when they are in stock, and from Magnum at $66.95 when they are in stock. These are the best known and easily accesible sources to purchase this kit from.

This kit has a true 5:1 Ogive platic nose cone, plastic atennas, plastic launch lugs (scale and functional), scale plastic screws for forward fly-away launch lug band, plastic fins, a plastic ejection baffle, cardboard tubes, coupler, fiber payload plate, and motor tube centering rings. The kit parts are nicely molded, with the exception of a defect on each side of one fin where the plastic sprue from injection molding was broken off instead of being cut cleanly off. The kit decals are very nice self adhesive clear film, which includes the screws, static ports and umbical port for the payload section. This is a nice touch that adds the scale realism to this already nice kit. A wrap over decal for the leading edge of each fin nicely simulates the leading edge steel cuff. Forming the forward and aft scale launch lugs are made from soft plastic molded I-beam.

Kit separates in two sections near middle of the booster tube. A 22 in and 30 in nylon parachute bring each section down separately if built according to kit instructions. These parachutes will be replaced. The booster tube will be modified for separation where payload section separates on the actual rocket, instead of booster section according to kit instructions. Kit flies on F and G composite rocket motors as built out of the box. Altitude capability according to Aerotech for this rocket kit is listed in the table below.
 Length: 68 in.  Alt @ RMR F Motor: 750 ft.  RMR F Motors: F40-4W/F52-5T
 Diameter: 2.6 in.  Alt @ RMR G Motor: 1350 ft.  RMR G Motors: G64-4W
 Nose Cone: 5:1 Ogive  Alt @ F Motor: 650 ft.  F Motors: F50-4T
 Motor Mount: 29mm  Alt @ G Motor: 1250/1300 ft.  G Motors: G40-4W / G80-4T
 Empty Weight: 28 oz. (1.75 lb)  Wght @ RMR F Motor: 2.0 lb  Lift @ RMR F Motor: 1.9-2.0 lb
   Wght @ RMR G Motor: 2.1 lb  Lift @ RMR G Motor: 2.8 lb
   Wght @ F Motor: 1.9 lb Lift @ F Motor: 2.3 lb
   Wght @ G Motor: 2.0 lb Lift @ G Motor: 2.3 - 3.3 lb

The Aerotech Astrobee D kit produces altitude performance at the high end of high performance model rockets, such as the Estes Black Brant II sounding rocket kit flown on black powder D motors. The Astrobee D rocket kit flown on F and G motors only allows for a maximum payload weight of about 4 ounces. Paint and epoxy used to contruct this kit can produce a much heavier rocket than the 1.75 pounds stated by the manufacturer. The recommended maximum liftoff weights suggested by Aerotech provides a thrust to weight ratio of about 7:1. The minimum suggested thrust to weight ratio for high power rockets is 5:1, and a general rule of thumb that will always work is 8:1. This kit flown on F and G motors has mundane performance, and is most applicable for launching from fields with limited space.

The Aerotech kit can easily be upgraded to fly as a high power rocket using H and above reloadable composite rocket motors. The kit can be easily modified for flight using H class reloadable motors. This article documents the complete construction of this photographically illustrated "how-to-do-it" technical project for beginners to high power rocketry who would like to build a scale sounding rocket that can be used to obtain their Tripoli Rocketry Level-1 certification flight. The beauty and simplicity of this project, is that the rocket can still be flown on F and G motors, making the modified Aerotech Astrobee D rocket kit extremely veratile. The rocket can be built and flown by anyone as F and G motors aren't regulated and can be purchased by anyone over 18 years of age. Experience can be gained with this rocket on F and G motors and later flown on H motors too.
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