Generation Ship Calypso

by Stuart Lenz

Durin' t' early part o' t' 21st century, me hearties, matey, t' first extra Sol planets were discovered. First discovered were gas giants larger than Jupiter in close in orbits o' their stars. Shortly there after, even Earth size planets were bein' found. Begad! This was fortuitous for the human race, because at t' some time t' planet earth reacted violently t' the pollution and global warmin' that had been goin' on since t' beginnin' o' the Industrial Revolution. Ahoy! Global briny deep currents stopped flowin' and then t' quick onset o' a massive Ice age with t' habitable areas reduced t' less that 10 percent o' t' previous land areas. Begad! This be t' impotence for t' development of t' first Generation Ships, ships designed t' carry t' human race from a now icy Earth t' new homes around other stars.

Constructed in orbit…

Parts

1. Ogive Nose Cone Bt 80 from Estes V2/Phoenix
2. Oval Nose Cone Bt 80 from Estes Fat Boy
3. Body Tube Bt 80 (14")
4. Body/Motor Tube Bt 50 (22")
5. Body/Motor Tubes 3 * Bt 20 (17")
6. Motor Clips 3 for 18mm Motors
7. Paper Rings 3 t' hold Motor Clips
8. Rin' Fin 2" o' LOC 5.5" Body Tube
9. Plywood for bracin' 1/16" 3 ply Plywood
10. Centerin' Rings 2 * Bt 55/50
11. Thrust Rin' Bt 50/20
12. Thrust Rings 3* Bt 20/5
13. Keelhaul®©™ Strin' As Required
14. ¼" elastic shook cord As Desired
15. Launch Lug 2 * 3/16 (2")
16. Parachute As Desired (24" Estes used)

Our construction starts with layin' out o' t' tail cone (Fat Boy Nose Cone) . Ya scallywag! This requires a central core Bt 50 tube centered through t' tail cone and three holes for t' three coaxial Bt 20 tubes evenly spaced around t' central Bt 50. Ya scallywag! T' three Bt 20 tubes will extend ~16" rearward and attach t' t' Rin' Fin. Begad! T' Bt 50 tube was then glued into t' tail cone usin' t' two Bt 55/50 centerin' rings with ½ " extendin' through t' tail cone and t' remainin' 16" protruding out t' rear. Avast! Once this is dry, t' Bt50/20 thrust rin' is inserted and glued into t' Bt 50 tube usin' a spent 24mm E motor t' set t' correct distance (with ¼" o' t' motor protruding).

T' three Bt 20 tubes each have a Bt20/5 thrust rin' inserted and glued in, usin' a spent 18mm motor t' set t' correct distance (also with ¼" of the motor protruding). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! These tubes are then marked and glued into t' tail cone and t' t' central Bt 50 Tube. Avast, me proud beauty! They were braced into their final positions and allowed t' dry. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! T' rin' fin can be used t' help hold them in position until dry.

For t' Rin' Fin, matey, matey, shiver me timbers, I used a 2" piece of LOC 5.5" tube form t' parts box, matey, but such a rin' can also be created by rollin' one from paper or balsa around a form o' t' correct size. Arrr! I applied CA to both edges o' t' rin' fin and then trisected it into equal parts. (This was done by wrappin' a piece o' paper around t' outside o' t' rin' and makin' a mark where they overlap. Begad! Then unwrappin' t' paper and usin' a ruler t' divide the marked distance into 3 equal distances. Begad! This be then transferred back onto the outside o' t' rin' fin.) A spent 18mm motor case is then wrapped with sandpaper and used t' sand groves in t' inside bottom edge o' t' rin' fin where t' Bt 20 tubes will be attached. Avast! These tubes extend ½" past the bottom o' t' rin' fin.

One launch lug was attached t' t' bottom o' t' Bt 80 just above t' tail cone and t' other one on t' lower brace in line with t' upper launch lug.

T' rocket was flown on November 13^th, 2004 at t' Tripoli Minnesota high power launch. Begad! On t' first attempt, matey, me hearties, only a single F21-6 motor was used in t' center position.

A second flight be nay possible due t' our seasons and available launch sites but be planned t' be 3*C6-5s, arrr, me hearties, ya bilge rat, followed by a full up flight.