Brief:
Upscale version of the Estes Astron Sprite. Parachute recovery unlike the original tumble recovery due to weight.

Construction:
Designed using RockSim 4.0 except for fin caps. The fin caps were added by hand with the RockSim plan being modified to account for the additional weight. Built using an 18" length of slotted 4.0" flexible phenolic tubing and a 4.0" LOC nose cone purchased from Giant Leap Rocketry. Through the wall 3/16" aircraft plywood fins attached directly to the 38mm phenolic motor tube and 1/4" plywood centering rings. The fin ring was made from a 5 1/2" piece of 12" sono tube (concrete form) that was re-enforced with slow cure epoxy resin for added strength. In order to get the CG in the proper area for stability, 24 oz of weight was added to the nose cone. (38" x 4.0" - 74 oz)

Flight:
Recommended motors range from H242 to I435. My first flight was on the H242 with a medium delay. The launch was straight and true to approximately 1000 feet and was recovered within 50 feet of the launch pad. Originally designed to use 44" parachute recovery, this was changed to a 54" chute after the first launch returned rather quickly. Minimal damage was sustained due to a soft landing area but the larger chute proved a nice adjustment. A 24" length of 5/8" tubular Kevlar® is epoxied through the upper centering ring to the motor mount tube with the other end being attached to a 6 ft length of 1" PML elastic shock cord. A Nomex® chute protector is attached to the tubular Kevlar® eliminating the need for any type of wadding. Large T-nuts were fitted into the lower centering ring and motor retention is done using brass "Kaplow Klips" The second flight was on an I211 with the same true launch to about 2100 feet and another successful recovery.

Summary:
Due to the extreme weight of the 3/16" plywood fins and fin ring on such a short body tube, the amount of weight necessary to add to the nose cone seemed excessive. I should have used G-10 for the fins and made the entire project a significant amount lighter. Aside from that, it was a great project and always seems to attract a lot of attention from my fellow rocketeers.

Other:
I would like take this opportunity to thank Joe D'Antonio, as it was a picture of his Superscale Sprite that inspired me to build this one. Unfortunately, Joe lost his in a lake before I had a chance to see it.