Astron Midget (K-40) upscaled to use standard 18mm motors. This uses Semroc ST-16 for the upper stage and Semroc LT-114 for the booster stage. It has motor mounts to accommodate standard-length 18mm black powder motors in both stages, in contrast to the original Astron Midget, which utlized that shorter Series III motors. Another change is that this upscale uses gap-staging to ignite the sustainer, instead of direct staging as in the original model.
This upscale is based on the original K-40 Astron Midget (released in 1969), and not the later TK-40 Mini Brute Midget, first released in 1972. I keep trying to specify that in this rocket's data, but the rocketreviews.com website keeps changing the field to say that this is a Mini Brute Midget. The TK-40 Mini Brute Midget had different dimensions and tube sizes, and would have required a different scale factor in order to yield this rocket.
Flight Date: | 2007-06-02 |
Rocket Name: | Estes Astron Midget (K-40)168% Upscale |
Flyer's Name: | Mark Kulka |
Motors: | B6-0/B6-4 |
Launch Site: | ASTRE |
First flight of this build. Good boost with some weathercocking into wind. Gap-staged perfectly. Sustainer drifted back with wind. Good flight.
Stage | Motor(s) |
---|---|
1 | Estes B6-0 |