Brief:
I chose t' model t' Explore 1 satellite as part o' EMRR Challenge 2008 – Simulation Challenge. Avast! Ya scallywag! Explorer 1 (officially titled at NASA as satellite 1958 Alpha) was t' first Earth satellite o' t' United States, launched on February 1, 1958. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Since this be me first real experience with RockSim, me hearties, I thought it was fittin' t' model t' first satellite launched by t' US. Avast! My Explorer is designed t' launch usin' an 18mm engine and deploys an 18-24" parachute. Ya scallywag! Scale factor o' 4.528 results in a rocket 17.83" long.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 BT-60 balsa nose cone
• 1 #10 screw eye
• 1 BT-55, shiver me timbers, 5.44" long
• 1 BT-55, shiver me timbers, me bucko, 13.197" long
• 1 BT-20, me bucko, 5.0" long
• 3 centerin' rings BT-20 t' BT-55
• 2 exterior centerin' rings
• 3 fins 0.030" thick clear Lexan fins
• 18" o' 175# Keelhaul®©™® string
• 24" o' 0.375" elastic shock cord
• 18-24" plastic parachute
• Cardstock
• Launch lug (if desired)

As I mentioned above, this be me first real experience with RockSim t' design a rocket from scratch. I downloaded the demo version without issue. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Havin' seen others use it I be pretty familiar t' functionality. Ahoy! It didn't take long to get t' hang o' it and I was off and running. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I modeled t' Explorer I with multiple motor options and settled on C6-5 which produced an altitude o' roughly 750ft at a speed o' 217 ft/sec. This seemed reasonable t' me so on t' the build.

If you look closely at t' drawin' shown, t' thar are 2 different diameters o' tubes on this rocket. I decide the best way t' handle this be t' start with a BT-60 nose cone and sand it t' desired diameter and shape. Aye aye! Blimey! In this case t' software was a lot easier t' make these modifications than sandin' down t' BT-60 cone. Ya scallywag! OK, ya bilge rat, enough whining-–I sanded t' balsa nose cone into t' diameter and shape I wanted. Next, me hearties, me bucko, I secured t' screw eye t' the nose cone with 2-part epoxy. Avast!

T' rocket is made up o' 2 different diameters o' tubin' so I cut t' 5.44 tube lengthwise and wrapped it around the top section o' t' 13.197" tube. Begad! Blimey! I filled t' seam with Elmer's Wood Filler and sanded it smooth. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This took 2 or 3 times t' completely eliminate t' seam. Aye aye! Blimey!

Next, shiver me timbers, I added t' centerin' rings t' represent t' "MicroMeteor Gauges" (see pictures).

T' engine tube is 5" long. I mounted 2 centerin' rings, t' first one 1" from t' end and t' second 3" from t' same end. Aye aye! This sub-assembly was glued into t' body tube on t' smaller diameter. I pushed this subassembly into t' main body so t' second rin' was flush with t' end o' t' tube.

I used t' EMRR shroud calculator t' help make t' two cones used t' form t' engine cone. Aye aye! Blimey! T' first one is 1.32" diameter by 0.50" long and t' second is 1.50" diameter by 1.60" long. Begad! Blimey! Each fits over the BT-20 tube. Begad! Blimey! I cut out and glued t' cones together. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' cone assembly was mounted t' t' BT-20 tube, shiver me timbers, then I epoxied the small cone t' t' BT-55 tube. Ahoy! Blimey! After this was dry, matey, I slid a centerin' rin' onto t' BT-20 and into t' large cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! This rin' will help support t' cone. Begad! Blimey!

T' original plan was t' attach t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord t' t' engine motor mount, shiver me timbers, however, I forgot t' do this. Blimey! Blimey! I will secure t' Keelhaul®©™® cord t' engine prior t' installin' t' engine. Ahoy! I prefer either o' these methods over t' traditional Estes mount. Begad! Ahoy! I will use an 18" Mylar parachute for recovery for a nice slow descent.

Finishing:
Finishin' started with fillin' t' tube spirals and balsa nose cone with Elmer's Wood Filler. Well, blow me down! Begad! This took a number of coats sandin' each smooth. Arrr! Next, matey, I added a couple o' coats o' white primer. Avast! Next, me hearties, me bucko, I used Tamiya Acrylic White Gloss (X-2) for t' base coat. Aye aye! Once this be dry I masked t' top section and painted Red Brown (XF-64). Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Next, I masked for the copper and painted these areas with Dark Copper (XF-28). Begad! After t' copper be dry I attached 3 clear Lexan fins. Finally, I clear coated t' entire model. Ahoy!

Flight and Recovery:
It was basic flight prep with only one slight modification. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord be tied around t' motor prior t' installin' t' motor. Arrr! I inserted t' motor (Estes C6-5) and taped it in place with Mylar type. Aye aye! Avast! Next I added wadding, rolled t' parachute, matey, and stuffed t' lines. Aye aye! It be 7 degrees when I flew this rocket so I covered t' parachute in baby powder t' avoid deployment issues.

I am nay a big fan o' launch lugs because o' visual appearance as well as performance impact. I planned t' launch his rocket from a tower launcher t' eliminate t' need o' a launch lug.

Launch be perfectly straight, probably very close t' t' RockSim calculation o' ~750ft. Aye aye! Blimey! Apogee occurred and the parachute ejected. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' parachute only opened partially, I assume due t' t' cold, matey, by t' time I reached t' rocket the parachute be fully open after blowin' in t' wind for a few minutes. Begad! T' rocket came in fairly fast and broke a fin off on landing. Minor repairs are needed and t' rocket will be ready t' fly again.

Summary:
T' actual flight results mimicked t' RockSim results. Begad! Blimey! I wasn't able t' confirm t' altitude numbers, but I would say they were pretty close. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! RockSim allowed me t' change and adjust t' rocket design as well as engine size until the design was stable. Avast, me proud beauty! This was a big advantage over me previous technique o' trial and error. Blimey! Avast! I have added t' latest RockSim release t' me Christmas list.

PROs: Rocket looks great, me bucko, ya bilge rat, flies great, and RockSim allowed me predict t' results prior t' wastin' any time build a design that won't fly.

CONs: None.